Ulrich  Middeldorf 


THE 


GEMS  OF  MASONRY; 


EMBLEMATIC 

AND 

DESCRIPTIVE. 


BY 


CINCINNATI: 
PUBLISHED   BY  THE  AUTHOR. 
1  85  9. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1859, 
BY  JOHN  SHERER, 
In  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  Ohio. 


TO  THE  BROTHER 


Wilio  has  Wiovli^d  his  ©hrou^h. 

I  hail  you,  brother,  in  the  place 

Where  none  but  those  should  meet 
Whose  types  are  bended  knee  and  brow 

And  the  uncovered  feet — 
I  take  you  by  the  grip  expressing 

All  that  heart  can  feel, 
I  And  I  pledge  myself  to  be  to  you 

A  Brother  true  as  steel  ! 

Tve  watched  with  real  joy  your  quest 

So  ardent  and  so  rare, — 
Your  bold,  unflinching  gaze  upon 

The  things  we  most  revere : 
I've  seen  that  nothing  daunts  you 

In  the  paths  our  lights  reveal, 
n  And  I  pledge  myself  acfain  to  you 

A  Brother  true  as  steel  I 

I  think  there's  that  within  you, 

Only  needs  for  time  to  show, 
Will  kindle  up  a  flame  where  others 

Only  feel  a  glow  ;  — 
I  think  the  grave  will  claim  you 

As  a  Mason  ripe  and  leal, — 
III        And  so  once  more  I  pledge  myself 

A  Brother  true  as  steel  I 


PREFACE. 


A  PERUSAL  of  the  elegant  and  impressive  matter  contained 
in  this  little  volume,  will  naturally  prompt  tlie  inquiry,  to 
whom  is  the  Fraternity  indebted  for  this  collection  of  gems  ? 
Nothing,  I  apprehend,  now  in  possession  of  the  Craft,  so 
sparkles  with  the  genuine  rays  of  Masonic  light,  as  what  in 
this  publication  T  have  styled  "  The  Gems  of  Masonry;  "  and  I 
will  frankly  state  that  it  is  chiefly  to  the  genius  and  Masonic 
knowledge  of  Bros.  Henry  Parmele  and  Rob  Morris,  I  am  in- 
debted for  the  labor  and  skill  so  manifest  in  the  selec- 
tions. The  Scriptural  passages  and  illustrations  are  for 
the  most  part  those  embraced  in  the  "  Masonic  Chart,"  by 
Parmele,  published  in  Philadelphia  in  1819,  once  very 
popular,  but  long  since  out  of  print.  The  beauty  of 
Parmele's  work  is  unparalleled.  Though  published  in 
a  form  unworthy  of  such  a  subject,  the  intrinsic 
merit  of  his   compilation,   has   been   admitted   by  every 


ii  PREFACE. 

subsequent  author,  and  nothing  of  later  date  has  equaled 
it  in  the  peculiar  graces  for  which  it  is  distinguished. 

Many  years  since  I  conceived  the  idea  of  republishing 
"  The  Freemasons'  Library,  and  General  Ahiman  Eezon," 
but  with  the  improvement  of  inserting  the  emblems  in 
juxtaposition  with  the  monitorial  passages.  This  had  never 
been  done,  neither  Cross,  Tannehill,  Hardie  nor  Cole,  the 
only  ritualists  at  that  period,  subsequent  to  Webb,  having 
thought  of  so  great  and  palpable  an  improvement.  Before  I 
had  matured  my  project,  however,  others  to  whom  I  com- 
municated my  ideas,  adopted  them  and  preceded  me  in  a 
publication  in  which  the  emblems  and  the  monitorial  matter 
are  intermingled. 

But  as  yet,  Parmele's  work  has  never  been  republished  upon 
that  plan,  and  I  now  offer  to  my  old  and  honored  patrons,  and 
to  the  reading  public  generally,  *'The  Gems  of  Masonry," 
bright  as  the  jewels  in  the  diadem  of  a  king.  Every  page  of 
this  book  challenges  the  admiration  of  the  reader.  The  first 
sentence  in  it  is  a  lecture,  a  sermon,  a  whole  volume  of  sug- 
gestive, condensed  thought.  For  extracts  of  abounding  power 
and  loveliness,  read  those  on  pages  3,  5,  8,  10,  and  indeed 
nearly  every  other.  The  emblems,  cuts  and  pictorial  matter 
are  entirely  my  own,  agreeing  in  arrangement  with  my  Car- 
pets of  the  first  nine  degrees,  so  long  and  so  thoroughly  ap- 
probated by  the  highest  judicatures  of  Freemasonry,  and  ena- 


PREFACE.  iii 

bling  the  intelligent  reader  to  elucidate  Masonic  ceremonies 
and  doctrines  as  with  the  light  of  a  noonday  sun. 

With  grateful  returns  to  my  patrons  for  their  past  kindness, 
and  an  earnest  solicitation  that  they  will  extend  to  the  "  Gems 
of  Masonry  the  favor  my  other  publications  have  so  long 
enjoyed, 

I  am,  Respectfully  and  Fraternally, 

JOHN  SHERER. 
Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  March  1st,  1859. 


ENTERED  APPRENTICE. 


1 


F-PRAYER. 

j^. . .  At  first,  man  was  permitted  to  converse  with  his  Maker, 
face  to  face.  But  since  the  fall,  a  new  mode  of  communication 
has  been  divinely  instituted  between  the  soul  and  its  Creator. 
And,  surely,  no  rational  man  should  enter  upon  any  important 
undertaking  without  first  invoking  the  blessing  of  Deity. — Mon, 
2,^.— Harris'  Const.  \50.—Frest.  60. 

F.  .  .But  thou,  when  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and 
pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret :  and  thy  Father,  which 
seeth  in  secret,  shall  reward  thee  openly. — Matt,  vi,  6. 

C, . .  This  emblem  calls  to  mind  the  piety  of  Abraham,  Noah, 
Abel,  and  the  great  lawgiver  of  the  Hebrews,  who  all  erected 
ALTARS,  and  offered  sacrifices  to  the  living  God. 

FJ. .  .The  Holy  Bible  is  given  us  to  direct  our  faith,  animate 
our  hope,  and  awaken  our  charity;  the  square  is  an  emblem  of 
those  two  inestimable  gifts  of  heaven  to  man,  the  law  of  Moses  and 


2 


ENTERED  APPKENTICE. 


the  GOSPEL  of  Christ,  meeting  in  a  point,  and  squaring  all  our 
actions.  The  compasses,  being  emblematical  of  human  reason, 
are  to  be  placed,  one  foot  in  the  angle  of  the  square — while  the 
other  describes  the  boundary  line  of  masonic  and  christian  duty: 
and  may  it  not,  with  propriety,  be  said  that.  While  a  man  keeps 
himself  thus  circumscribed,  it  is  impossible  that  he  should  ma- 
terially err?  Thus  the  masonic  brother  derives  a  fund  of  instruc- 
tion from  those  emblems,  which  are  esteemed  by  the  world,  as 
unmeaning  symbols  ;  and  which  are  often  presumptuously  de- 
nominated, the  childish  appendages  of  our  order. — Free  Mas.  Lib, 
149.  Eeych.  v.  p.  13. 

if! ..  In  the  beginning  God  created  the  heaven  and  the  earth. 

And  the  earth  was  without  form,  and  void  ;  and  darkness  was  upon 
the  face  of  the  deep.  And  the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the 
face  of  the  waters.  And  God  said,  Let  there  be  light :  and  there 
was  light.  And  God  saw  the  light  that  it  was  good :  and  God 
divided  the  light  from  the  darkness.  And  God  called  the  light 
Day,  and  the  darkness  he  called  Night.  And  the  evening  and 
the  morning  were  the  first  day.  And  God  said,  Let  there  be  a 
firmament  in  the  midst  of  the  waters,  and  let  it  divide  the  waters 
from  the  waters.  And  God  made  the  firmament,  and  divided  the 
waters  which  were  under  the  firmament  from  the  waters  which 
were  above  the  firmament :  and  it  was  so.  And  God  called  the 
firmament  Heaven.  And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
second  day.  And  God  said,  Let  the  waters  under  the  heaven  be 
gathered  together  unto  one  place,  and  let  the  dry  land  appear : 
and  it  was  so.  And  God  called  the  dry  land  Earth  ;  and  the 
gathering  together  of  the  waters  called  he  Seas  :  and  God  saw 
that  it  was  good.  And  God  said,  Let  the  earth  bring  forth  grass, 
the  herb  yielding  seed,  and  the  fruit-tree  yielding  fruit  after 
his  kind,  whose  seed  is  in  itself,  upon  the  earth  :  and  it  was 
so.  And  the  earth  brought  forth  grass,  and  herb  yielding 
seed  after  his  kind,  and  the  tree  yielding  fruit,  whose  seed 
was  in  itself,  after  his  kind  ;  and  God  saw  that  it  was  good. 
And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the  third  day.  And  God 
said.  Let  there  be  lights  in  the  firmament  of  the  heaven,  to  divide 
the  day  from  the  night ;  and  let  them  be  for  signs,  and  for  sea- 
sons, and  for  days,  and  years  :  And  let  them  be  for  lights  in  the 
firmament  of  the  heaven,  to  give  light  upon  the  earth  :  and  it 
was  so.  And  God  made  two  great  lights  :  the  greater  light  to 
rule  the  day,  and  the  lesser  light  to  rule  the  night  :  he  made  the 


FIRST  SECTION. 


3 


16.  And  the  evening  and  the  morning 
-Gen.  i,  19.  ^ 


stars  also. —  Gen.  i,  1 

were  the  fourth  day. —  Gen.  i,  19.  Sun,  stand  thou  still  upon 
Gibeon,  and  thou,  Moony  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon. 


jr..  .As  this  heavenly  body  receives  all  her  light  from  the  sun, 
so  does  the  best  created  intelligence  derive  every  blessing  and 
every  virtue  from  the  sun  of  righteousness.  Even  the  brightest 
saint  in  heaven  possesses  no  independent  goodness,  but  will  shine 
for  ever  with  the  reflected  splendors  of  the  great  divinity.  At  his 
rising,  meridian,  and  setting,  this  splendid  luminary  invites  us  to 
labor,  to  refreshment,  and  to  rejjose.  When,  after  the  absence  of 
a  few  hours,  he  emerges  from  the  shades  of  night,  he  typifies  the 
journey  of  the  human  soul,  through  youth,  manhood,  and  age, 
and  through  the  shades  of  the  sepulchre  to  the  opening  morning 
of  eternity. — Hutch.  Lec.  iii,  iv,  xiv. 

D. .  .  He  that  is  unjust,  let  him  be  unjust  still  ;  and  he  which 
is  filthy,  let  him  be  filthy  still ;  and  he  that  is  righteous,  let  him 
be  righteous  still. — Rev.  xxiii,  3. 


D 


D. . .  This  badge  of  a  mason  is  not  worn  by  the  genuine  ma- 
sonic brother,  through  ostentation  or  levity,  but  as  a  continual 
memento,  that  as  the  Iambus  skin  is  pure  and  spotless,  so  he  is 
bound  by  new  and  solemn  ties  to  ''keep  himself  unspotted  from 
the  world."  He  is,  moreover,  reminded  that,  when  the  blood 
*' which  speakelh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel,"  shall  have 
Avashed  his  soul  from  earthly  pollution,  he  will  be  clad  in  im- 
mortal white^  in  the  lodge  above. — Mon.  35. — Free  Mas.  Lib. 150, 
Cal.  17. — Frest.  Lec.  vi. 


4 


ENTERED  APPRENTICE. 


57^6  twenty-four  inch  Gauge  and  Common  Gavel. 

These  should  be  a  part  of  the  furniture  or  equipments  of  the  Lodge. 
The  following  is  the  correct  form  of  the  Gavel : 


L. . .  The  speculative  use  of  this  implement  is  to  divide  our  time 
into  distinct  portions,  to  be  devoted  to  usefulness,  necessity  and 
duty.  Its  division  into  24  equal  parts  denotes  the  hours  of  the 
day;  that  into  3  equal  parts  denotes  a  division  of  our  duty 
between  our  Creator,  our  brethren,  and  ourselves. — Mon.  3. — 
Free  Mas,  Lib.  152.—FhiL  ch,  3.—Frest.  88. 

M. . .  This  working  tool  of  an  Entered  Apprentice  alludes  to  the 
imperfections  of  our  nature  while  here  below,  and  is  employed  by 
the  speculative  builder  to  remove  the  asperities  and  superfluities 
from  the  surface  of  the  materials  that  are  used  in  the  construction 
of  his  spiritual  and  masonic  edifice. — Mon.  32. — Fhil.  92. — Free 
Mas.  Lib.  153. 

D.  . .  Speak  ye  unto  all  the  congregation  of  Israel,  saying.  In 
the  tenth  day  of  this  month  they  shall  take  to  them  every  man 
a  lamb,  according  to  the  house  of  their  fathers,  a  lamb  for  an 
house.  And  this  day  shall  be  unto  you  for  a  memorial  ;  and  ye 
shall  keep  it  a  feast  to  the  Lord  throughout  your  generations  ;  ye 
shall  keep  it  a  feast  by  an  ordinance  for  ever. — Exodus  xii,  3  and 
14.  The  next  day  John  seeth  Jesus  and  sailh.  Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world. — John  i,  29. 
And  the  great  dragon  was  cast  out,  that  old  serpent,  called  the 
devil,  and  Satan,  which  deceiveth  the  whole  world  ;  and  they 
overcame  him  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. — Rev.  xii,  9,  11. 


SECOND  SECTION. 


-^^...This  emblem  of  inno- 
cence is  so  peculiarly  appro- 
priate, that,  even  the  Son  of 
God  himself  has  condescended 
to  represent  his  own  spotless 
nature  under  the  figure  of  a 
Lamb.  He  was  led  like  a 
lamb  to  the  slaughter/'  In 
contemplating  this  masonic  em- 
blem the  mind  is  suspended,  in  solemn  wonder,  between  earth 
and  heaven.  A  pacific  temperament  steals  insensibly  upon 
the  soul,  and,  while  we  admire  the  tender  and  submissive  nature 
of  this  tenant  of  the  fold,  we  are  taught  what  must  be  our  own 
character  if  we  are  finally  admitted  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  and 
led  by  him  to  living  pastures,  on  the  mountains  of  eternal  spring. 
— Free  Mas,  Lib.  152. —  Cal.  2. — Mon.  49. 

j5...This  token  of  Fidelity  is  well  understood  by  nations  at 
the  present  day,  but  was  introduced  as  such  into  the  works  of  the 
first  painters  and  sculptors  of  antiquity.  He  alone,  who  is  ca- 
pable of  genuine  friendship,  can  conceive  of  the  peculiar  satis- 
faction of  reciprocating  tokens  of  fidelity  with  those  who  are 
deserving  of  confidence. —  CompiL 

C. .  .Now  this  was  the  manner  in  former  time  for  to  confirm 
all  things,  a  man  plucked  off  his  shoe,  and  gave  it  to  his  neigh- 
bor, and  this  was  a  testimony  in  Israel. — Ruth  iv,  7. 

A,  .  .And  the  house  was  built  of  stone  made  ready  before  it 
was  brought  thither  :  so  that  there  was  neither  hammer,  axe,  nor 
any  tool  of  iron,  heard  in  the  house. — 1  Kings  vi,  7. 


6 


ENTEEED  APPEENTICE. 


B, . .  The  highest  hills  and  the  lowest  vallies,  were  from  remote 
antiquity,  accounted  sacred.  There  Moses  received  the  law,  and 
there  the  great  sacrifice  for  sin  was  offered. 


D. . .  This  representation  of  the  hall,  where  masons  meet,  is 
symbolical  of  the  Universe,  which  is  illimitable  on  every  side, 
and  is  the  proper  temple  of  the  Deity  whom  we  serve.  This 
temple  was  erected  with  unfathomable  wisdom,  supported  and 
sustained  by  the  strength  of  omnipotence,  and  decorated  with 
unfading  and  imperishable  beauty.    The  lodge,  to  an  entering 


THIRD  SECTION. 


Y 


mason,  presents  an  emblem  of  the  world  in  miniature. — Free 
Mas.  Lih.ll.  —  Harris'  Const.  42.  —  Hatch,  Lec.iv. — Ander. 
Const.  312. 

From  East  to  West,  Freemasonry  extends,  and  between  North 
and  South,  in  every  clime  and  nation,  are  Masons  to  be  found. 

"Modern  investigations  prove  this  assertion  to  be  well  founded.  Every 
civihzed  laud  has  its  Lodges  ;  every  nation  possessing  the  spark  of  liberty 
and  religion,  its  trestle-board  of  Masonic  secrets." 


Our  institution  is  said  to  be  supported  by  Wisdom,  Strength 
and  Beauty. 

D. .  .Happy  is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom,  and  the  man  that 
getteth  understanding.  For  the  merchandise  of  it  is  better  than 
the  merchandise  of  silver,  and  the  gain  thereof  than  fine  gold. 
She  is  more  precious  than  rubies  :  and  all  the  things  that  thou 
canst  desire  are  not  to  be  compared  unto  her.  Length  of  days  is  in 
her  right  hand  :  and  in  her  left  hand  riches  and  honor.  Her 
ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  are  peace.  She 
is  a  tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold  upon  her  :  and  happy  is 
every  one  that  retaineth  her.  The  Lord  by  wisdom  hath  founded 
the  earth  ;  by  understanding  hath  he  established  the  heavens. — 
Prov.  iii,  13,  19.  Wisdom  hath  builded  her  house,  she  hath 
hewn  out  her  seven  pillars. — Prov.  ix,  1.  And  now,  0  Lord 
my  God,  thou  hast  made  thy  servant  king  instead  of  David  my 
father ;  and  I  am  but  a  little  child  :  I  know  not  how  to  go  out, 


8 


ENTERED  APPKENTICE. 


or  come  in.  And  thy  servant  is  in  the  midst  of  thy  people  which 
thou  hast  chosen,  a  great  people,  that  cannot  be  numbered  nor 
counted  for  multitude.  Give  therefore  thy  servant  an  under- 
standing heart  to  judge  thy  people,  that  I  may  discern  between 
good  and  bad  :  for  who  is  able  to  judge  this  thy  so  great  a 
people.  And  the  speech  pleased  the  Lord,  that  Solomon  had 
asked  this  thing.  And  God  said  unto  him,  Because  thou  hast 
asked  this  thing,  and  hast  not  asked  for  thyself  long  life  ;  neither 
hast  asked  riches  for  thyself,  nor  hast  asked  the  life  of  thine 
enemies ;  but  hath  asked  for  thyself  understanding  to  discern 
judgment :  Behold,  I  have  done  according  to  thy  words  :  lo,  I 
have  given  thee  a  wise  and  understanding  heart,  so  that  there 
was  none  like  thee  before  thee,  neither  after  thee  shall  any  rise 
like  unto  thee.  And  I  have  also  given  thee  that  which  thou  hast 
not  asked,  both  riches  and  honor ;  so  that  there  shall  be  not  any 
among  the  kings  like  unto  thee  all  thy  days.  And  if  thou  wilt 
walk  in  my  ways,  to  keep  my  statutes  and  my  commandments, 
as  thy  father  David  did  walk,  then  I  will  lengthen  thy  days. — 
1  Kmgs  iii,  7,  \\.—Prov,  i,  20,  21  and  ii,  2,  6,  10. 

(7. . .  This  clouded  canopy  of  heaven,  decorated  with  starry  and 
planetary  systems,  is  an  object  to  which  every  good  mason  fre- 
quently directs  his  eye,  as  being  the  veil  which  conceals  from  his 
sight  the  future  and  glorious  residence  of  his  soul ;  the  object  of 
his  wishes  and  the  palace  of  his  almighty  king.  At  this  home 
he  expects  to  arrive  by  the  aid  of  that  ladder  which  constitutes 
the  way  by  the  door  into  the  sheepfold.'* — Mon,  36. — Free 
Mas.  Lib.  251. —  Cal.  18. — Hutch.  Lec.  iv. 

F..  The  three  rounds  of  this  symbolic  ladder,  which  is  an 
emblem  of  that,  seen  in  vision  by  the  patriarch  Jacob,  ascending 
to  heaven,  on  which  angels  ascended  and  descended  continually, 
are  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity  ;  teaching  us  that  we  must  repose 
faith  in  God,  cherish  a  hope  of  immortality,  and  practise  charity 
to  man. — Free  Mas.  Lib.  151. 

F.  . .  And  he  dreamed,  and,  behold,  a  ladder  set  upon  the 
earth,  and  the  top  of  it  reached  to  heaven  :  and  behold,  the  an- 
gels of  God  ascending  and  descending  on  it. —  Gen,  xxviii,  12. 
And  now  abideth  Faith,  Hope,  Charity,  these  three  ;  but  the 
greatest  of  these  is  Charity. — 1  Cor.  xiii,  13.  For  we  know  that 
if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a 
building  of  God,  an  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.    We  are  confident,  I  say,  and  willing  rather  to  be 


10 


ENTERED  APPRENTICE. 


absent  from  the  body,  and  to  be  present  with  the  Lord.  Where- 
fore we  labor,  that,  whether  present  or  absent,  we  may  be  ac- 
cepted of  him. — 2  Cor,  v,  1,  8,  9. — xxi,  1,  andxxii,  17. 


F,  .  .For  I  testify  unto  every  man  that  heareth  the  words  of 
the  prophecy  of  this  book,  If  any  man  shall  add  unto  these  things, 
God  shall  add  unto  him  the  plagues  that  are  written  in  this 
book  :  and  if  any  man  shall  take  away  from  the  words  of  the  book 
of  this  prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his  part  out  of  the  book 
of  life. — Rev.  xxii,  18,  19. 

F, . .  This  sacred  volume,  so  much  neglected  by  the  world,  is 
the  constant  inmate  of  the  lodo-e :  nor  can  there  be  a  lod^-e  with- 
out  it.  The  precepts  and  the  examples,  contained  and  recorded 
in  this  book,  are  held  in  the  highest  veneration  by  every  truly 
masonic  brother,  insomuch  that  he  who  esteems  it  not  is  ignorant 
of  the  first  great  luminary  of  the  world.  The  bible  is,  at  once, 
our  guide  in  this  world,  and  our  passport  to  a  better. — Mon.  49. 
— Phillips  4,  5,  6. — Hutch.  Lec.  v. — Prest,  89. 

i^....THE  compasses  teach  us  to  circumscribe  our  conduct, 
limit  our  desires,  restrain  our  passions,  live  and  act,  within  the 
bounds  of  reason  and  religion. — Mon.  36. — Hutch,  v. 


G.  .  .This  representation  of  the  floor  of  the  temple  is  an  emblem 
of  human  life,  variegated  with  pleasure  and  pain,  prosperity  and 
adversity.  The  border  surrounding  it,  is  figurative  of  the  bless- 
ings of  eternity,  which  can  be  enjoyed  only  by  the  faithful.  The 
blazing  star  in  the  center  is  an  emblem  of  Deity. — Mon.  52. — 
Gal.  20. — Hutch.  Lec.  v. 


THIRD  SECTION. 


11 


n, .  .These  teach  us  the  situation  of  the  tabernacle  and  temple, 
and  may  also  refer  to  the  journey  of  the  sun  through  the  heavens. 
— Free  Mas  Lib,  150. — Hutch,  Lec.  v,  and  viii. 

The  Movable  and  Immovable  jewels  also  claim  our  attention  in 
this  section. 

"By  the  general  usage  the  square,  level  and  plumb  are  styled  the 
immovable  jewels,  and  this  is  in  accordance  with  Webb's  private  instruc- 
tions.'* 


K. .  .This  is  an  emblem  of  moral  rectitude,  and  teaches  to  walk 
uprightly  in  all  our  dealings  with  our  fellow  men. — Mon.  53. — 
Free  Mas.  lAb.  167.— PM.  97,— Frest.  89. 

JT,.  .By  this  symbol  we  are  reminded  of  the  natural  equality 
of  the  human  family.  At  the  same  time  it  admonishes  us  neither 
to  despise  the  humble,  nor  look  with  envy  on  the  great.  The 


12 


ENTERED  APPRENTICE. 


king,  the  noble,  and  the  man  of  splendid  genius,  meet  on  a  level 
with  the  tradesman,  the  husbandman,  and  the  son  of  sorrow,  on 
that  decorated  carpet  which  recognizes  no  distinctions  of  blood 
or  of  fortune,  and  spurns  no  footstep  but  that  of  immorality  and 
crime.— Mon.  le.—Frest  S9.—Free  Mas,  Lib.  167.— Phil.  97. 


tl.  .  .This  emblem  is  a  type  of  the  good  man  when  fitted,  by 
divine  grace,  for  the  temple  above,  having  practised  the  duties 
of  a  mason,  and  a  christian  on  earth,  and  being  transformed  from 
the  depravity  of  nature  to  the  perfection  of  grace ;  a  work  which 
is  completed  by  death,  the  grand  tyler  of  eternity. — Mon.  88. 


^  .  .  As  the  TRESTLE  board  of  the  master  achitect  contains  th€ 
various  designs  from  which  the  operative  workmen  learn  their  re- 
spective tasks ;  so  does  the  book  of  natural  and  revealed  religion 
prescribe  the  whole  duty  of  man.  In  this  book,  we  find  precisely 
the  designs  which  are  to  adorn  the  celestial  temple. — Mon.  38. 


Of 


w 


E 


0. ..And  I  say  unto  you,  That  many  shall  come  from  the 
east  and  west,  and  shall  sit  down  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and 
Jacob,  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. — Matt,  viii,  11. 

0. .  .This  emblem  may  remind  us  of  the  rise  of  all  the  sciences 
in  the  East,  and  their  progress  to  the  West,  leading  civilization 
and  happiness  in  their  train. — Hutch.  Lec.  xiv. 


THIRD  SECTION. 


P.  .  .1  John,  was  in  the  isle  tliat  is  called 
Patmos,  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  Christ. — Bev.  i,  9.  In 
those  days,  came  JoIhi  tlie  Baptist,  preaching 
in  the  wilderness  of  Jiidea,  and  saying,  Re- 
pent ye  :  for  tl^ie  kingdom  of  lieaven  is  at 
hand. — MatL  iii,  1.  There  was  a  man  sent 
from  God  whose  name  was  John. — John  i,  6. 

P.  ,  .The  lioly  scriptures  and  the  examp]<^s 
of  good  men  liave  prescribed  our  duty  in  - 
plain  a  manner  tliat.  "he  who  runs  mny 
read." — Hutch.  Lec.  xii. — Harris'  Const.  86. 


Q.  .  .The  tenet  of  broth- 
erly LOVE  is  a  distiiio-uish- 
ing  cliai-acteristic  of  mason- 
ly,  as  w^ell  as  of  Christianity. 
To  extend  relief  to  the  dis- 
tressed is  likewise  our  ac- 
knowledged duty.  These 
virtues  if  suitably  and  pi-ac- 
ti  cal  1  y  e  xe  m  pi  i  fie  d ,  assim  i  la  te 
a  moral  to  those  generous 
spirits  who  minister  to  the 
comfort  of  the  human  race,  and  rejoice  in  the  happiness  of 
universal  being.    'J'o  these  add  faithfulness  and  truth,  and  tlie 
sum  of  our  duty  to  our  fallow  men  will  be  complete. — Mon.  17. 


-S.  M. 


XiV. — Bale] I.  Lec. 


Y.  .  .K  certain  man  went 
down  from  Jei'usalem  to 
Jericho,  and  fell  among 
th.ieves,  which  stripped  him 
of  his  raim.ent,  and  wounded 
him,  leaving  him  lialf  dead. 
And  by  chance  there  came 
down  a  certain  priest  tliat 
way:  and  when  he  saw  liim, 
he  passed  by  on  tlie  otl^er 
side.  And  likewise  a  Le- 
\'iie,  when  he  was  at  the 


14 


ENTERED  APFKENTICE. 


place,  came  and  looked  on  him,  and  passed  by  on  the  other  side. 
But  a  certain  Samaritan,  as  he  journeyed,  came  where  he  was: 
and  when  he  saw  him,  he  had  compassion  on  him,  and  went  to 
him,  and  bound  up  his  wounds,  pouring  in  oil  and  wine,  and  set 
him  on  his  own  beast,  and  brought  him  to  an  inn,  and  took 

P. .  .The  lip  of  truth 
shall  be  established  for- 
ever :  bat  a  lying  tongue 
is  but  for  a  moment. — 
Prov.  xii,  19.  He  that 
halh  pity  upon  the  poor 
lendeth  unto  the  Lord ; 
and  that  which  he  hath 
given  will  he  pay  hira 
again. — Prov.  xix,  1 7.  Blessed  are  the  merciful :  for  they 
shall  obtain  mercy. — Matt,  v,  7.  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth 
the  poor :  the  Lord  will  deliver  him  in  time  of  ti-ouble. — 
Psalm,  xli,  1.  Then  Jonathan  and  David  made  a  covenant, 
because  he  loved  him  as  his  own  soul. — Sam,  xviii,  3-xix,  2-7. 


P.  .  .Temperance  is  both  our  duty  and  our  happiness.  For- 
titude is  that  mental  stability  which  sustains  with  manly  com- 
posure, the  evils  of  life.    While  the  former  virtue  buffets  the 


THIRD  SECTION. 


15 


tempest,  Prudence  directs  tlie  helm.  Justice,  the  last  of  the  four 
cardinal  virtues,  relates  to  our  transactions  with  others. — Mon.  57. 

R. .  .l¥  tliou  faint  in  tlie  day  of  adversity,  tliy  strength  is 
small. — Prov.  xxiv,  10.  That  which  is  altogether  just  shalt 
thou  follow,  that  thou  mayest  live. — Deut.  xvi,  20.  Every  pru- 
dent man  dealeth  with  knowledge  :  but  a  fool  layeth  open  his 
folly. — Prov.  xiii,  16.  And  every  man  that  sii'iveih  for  the 
mastery  is  temperate  in  all  things. — 1  Cor.  ix,  25. 


^.  ..He  put  no  trust  in  his  servants;  and  iiis  angels  he 
charged  with  folly  :  How  much  less  in  them  that  dwell  in  houses 
of  clay,  whose  foundation  is  in  the  dust. — Job.  iv,  18 — 19. 

"The  illnstratioii  of  Masonic  Seroice,  y'iz.:  freedom,  fervency  and  zeal 
wa«  a  part  of  Webb's  system  of  lectures." 

*  *  ^  'li^  >U  -Vf  ^  *  ^  * 

y^.  ..The  shining  virtue  of  CHARITY,  so  honorable  to  our 
nature,  and  so  often  enjoined  in  the  sacred  volume,  is  peculiarly 
characteristic  of  the  ancient  society  of  free  and  accepted  ma- 
sons. Their  earliest  records  and  their  pei-petual  practice  coin- 
cide in  tins  particular.  Charity  includes  a  supreme  love  to  the 
gi-eat  ci'eator  and  govei'nor  of  the  universe,  and  also  an  ardent 
affection  for  the  rational  beings  of  his  creation.  This  humane, 
this  generous,  this  heaven-inspii-ed  principle  is  diametrically  op- 
posed to  the  prime  iiigredient  of  our  nature,  which  is  a  supreme 
regard  for  self.  And  wlien  tliis  latter  passion  is  entirely  sup- 
planted by  the  former,  and  not  until  then,  will  the  soul  of  man 
be  purified  and  fitted  for  angelic  society.  The  feelings  of  the 
heart,  guided  by  reason,  should  direct  the  liand  of  chaidiy.  Tb.e 
objects  of  relief  are  merit  in  distress  ;  virtue  in  lemplation  ;  in- 
nocence in  tears  ;  industrious  men  visited  by  afiiictive  acts  of 
divine  providence  ;  widows,  the  survivors  of  inisbands  on  whose 
labors  they  depended  for  subsistence  ;  and  < ^TH'an- in  tender  years 
thrown  naked  on  the  world. — Hatch.  Lec.  xi.  —  S.  Al.  cli.  xv. 


16 


ENTERED  APPRENTICE. 


A. .  .This  masonic  symbol  is 
most  happily  chosen  to  repre- 
sent the  rude  and  imperfect  con- 
dition of  man  on  his  first  appear- 
ance upon  the  theater  of  human 
life.  Instead  of  that  moral  purity 
which  our  first  parents  possessed 
when  tliey  came  perfect  from 
the  hands  of  their  creator,  we 
now  find  ourselves  born  in  sin 
and  cradled  in  iniquity.  ''The 
gold  has  become  dim,  and  the 
fine  gold  is  changed.''    This  is 
one  of  the  first  principles  of 
our  order,  and  is  taught  on  the 
threshold  of  masonry  ;  that  the 
brother,  being  initiated  in  the 
duties    of   charity,  friendship 
and  vital  morality,  may  pass 
the  trials  of  life  and  the 
gloom  of  death  with  forti- 
tude, and  finally  be  raised 
to  the  temple  above. 

The  illusti'ation  of  these  virtues  is  accompanied  with  some 
geneial  observations  peculiar  to  masons. 

Such  is  the  arrangement  of  the  different  sections  in  the  first 
lecture,  wiiich,  with  the  foi-ms  adopted  at  the  opening  and  clos- 
ing of  a  lodge,  comprehends  the  whole  of  the  first  degree  of 
masonry.  This  plan  has  the  advantage  of  regularity  to  recom- 
mend it,  the  support  of  precedent  and  authority,  and  the  sanction 
and  respect  which  flow  from  antiquity.  The  whole  is  a  regular 
system  of  morality,  conceived  in  a  strain  of  interesting  allegory, 
which  must  unfold  its  beauties  to  the  candid  and  industrious 
inquirer. 


CHARGE. 


Webb's  Man.  51. 


FELLOW  CRAFT. 


17 


^—PRAYER. 

^. .  .  In  every  degree  of  masonry  llie  remembrance  of  our  great 
high  priest  is  kept  alive  by  a  representation  of  tlie  altar  on 
which  typical  sacrifices  were  offered  under  the  Jewish  dispen- 
sation. Since  the  p-reat  sacrifice  was  offered,  once  for  all,  the 
type  and  the  shadow  was  done  away — but  the  memory  of  that 
stupendous  transaction  will  never  be  erased  from  the  mind  of  ihe 
mason  and  the  christian,  while  there  is  a  lodge  to  visit,  or  a  trans- 
gression to  atone  for.  The  degree  of  FELLOW  CRAFT  de- 
velopes  new  sources  of  instruction  in  the  mystic  art — and  if  pro- 
perly received  and  faithfully  studied  cannot  fail  to  reward  the 
most  indefatigable  labors  even  of  the  longest  life. —  Comp, 


18 


FELLOW  CRAFT. 


B.  .  .The  application  of  the  right  angle  to 
the  centre  of  the  earth,  spoken  of  in  the  foregoing 
degree,  is  beaulifuli3Mllustrative  of  the  sphere  of 
the  mason's  duty  ;  wliich  of  necessity  has  de- 
finite limits ;  and  also  of  the  restraint  which  she 
should  impose  on  the  inclinations  of  the  heart  to 
wader  beyond  the  angular  limits  of  masonic  pro- 
priety. 

The  working  tools  of  a  Fellowcraft  are  here  introduced  and 
explained  ;  wliich  are  the  jplumby  square  and  level. 


C.  .These  jewels  teach  us  to  regulate  our  assertions  by  the 
plumb-line  of  truth  ;  to  level  our  pride  with  the  plane  on  which 
God  has  designed  us  to  move  ;  and  to  square  our  conduct  by 
the  precepts  and  examples  of  scripture,  and  the  dictates  of  en- 
lightened reason. — Mon.  47. — Phil  97. — Free  Mas.  Lib.  167. — 
Prest.  89. — Hutch.  Lec.  iv — viii. 

OPERATIVE  AXD  SPECULATIVE  MASONBY. 

i).  .  .As  masonry  and  geometry  signify  one  and  the  same 
thing,  by  operative  masonry  we  are  to  understand  the  practical 
application  of  geometrical  and  systemetrical  principles  to  the  vari- 
ous purposes  of  architecture.  Speculative  Masonry  contem- 
plates, in  theory,  what  the  opei-ative  builder  reduces  to  practice  ; 
and  is  necessary  to  the  master  builder  before  he  is  prepared  to 
give  beauty,  strength  and  pi'<)Dordon  to  an  edifice. — Mon.  48. — 
Free  Mas.  Lib.  1.33,  168.— 2.—S.  M.  54,  Prest.  30. 

Ander.  Const.  1 — 310. 

D.  .  .The  necessity  of  some  little  attention  to  the  science  of 
speculative  masonry,  in  order  to  reap  any  distinguished  benefits 
from  the  institution,. is  as  absolute  as  in  case  of  any  other  science 


SECOND  SECTION. 


19 


or  art ;  and  experienced  brethren  have^io  difficulty  of  discerning 
the  reason  why  some,  who  call  themselves  masons,  neglect  the 
institution.  They  relish  not  because  they  know  not.  Though 
the  mine  is  rich  they  have  never  penetrated  to  the  bed  of  golden 
treasures.  Should  you  expect  to  find  a  man  enraptured  with  the 
sublime  system  of  Newtonian  philosopliy  merely  because  he  had 
read  the  tide  page  of  the  Principia  ?  How  then  can  it  be  a  matter 
of  wonder,  that,  some  men,  too  careless  to  moralize  and  too  stupid 
to  discern,  should  enter  the  porch  of  masonry,  and  there  fall 
asleep  in  the  ai'ms  of  indolence  and  dullness  !  But  the  imporlauce 
of  the  INSTRUCTIVE  TONGUE  to  commuuicatc  this  science  is  as  mani- 
fest as  the  necessity  of  the  listening  ear  to  receive  the  informa- 
tion. But,  in  every  case,  the  brother  who  is  capable  of  instruct- 
ing is  ever  ready  to  impart ;  for  the  genius  who  conducted  him 
through  the  mystic  temple,  inspired  him  with  all  the  virtues  of 
the  royal  science.  Yet  the  forementioned  virtues  are  worse  than 
useless,  without  the  completion  of  the  splendid  Trio,  by  adding 
the  FAITHFUL  BREAST.  Of  all  socicties,  that  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  has  been  most  distinguished  for  the  inviolable  seciecy 
which  its  members  have  uniformly  preserved  ;  and  this  too  in  de- 
fiance of  the  thunders  of  the  Vatican,  and  the  rack  of  the  Inquisi- 
tion. Yes,  and  in  contempt  of  the  pusillanimous  and  despicable 
efforts  of  a  few  individuals,  who  have  labored  with  unweaiied 
zeal,  to  discover  something  of  which  they  had  been  convicted  of 
being  utterly  unwoi-thy.  The  shafts  that  have  been  directv^d  at 
our  institution,  have  successively  fallen  innoxious  at  her  feet. — - 
Free  Mas.  Lib,  178. 

U.  .  .The  globes  are  two  artificial 
spherical  bodies,  on  the  (convex  sur- 
face of  which  are  represented  the 
countries,  seas,  and  various  parts  of 
the  earth,  the  face  of  the  heavens,  the 
planetaiy  revolutions,  and  other  particulars. 

The  sphere,  with  the  parts  of  the  earth  delineated  on  its  sur- 
face, is  called  the  terrestrial  globe  ;  and  that  with  the  constella- 
tions, and  otlier  heavenly  bodies,  the  celestial  globe. 

The  principal  use  of  the  globes,  beside  serving  as  maps,  to 
distinguish  the  outward  parts  of  the  earth,  and  the  situaiion  of 
the  fixed  stars,  is  to  illusti'ate  and  explain  the  phenomena  aris- 
ing from  the  annual  revolution,  and  the  diurnal  rot,ation,  of  the 
earth  round  its  own  axis.     They  are  the  noblest  instruments  for 


20 


FELLOW  CRAFT. 


improving  the  mind,  and  giving  it  the  most  distinct  idea  of  any 
problem  or  proposition,  as  well  as  enabliiig  it  to  solve  the  same. 
Contemplating  these  bodies,  we  are  inspired  wiih  a  due  reverence 
for  the  Deity  and  his  works,  and  are  induced  to  encourage  the 
studies  of  astronomy,  geography,  navigation,  and  the  arts  de- 
pendent on  them,  by  which  society  has  been  so  much  benefited. 

G. .  .This  emblem  among  masons  implies  their  respect  for  those 
works  of  creation  which  demonstrates  the  power,  the  wisdom, 
and  the  goodness  of  the  Almighty  builder.  This  symbol  may 
denote  that  access  into  the  holy  of  holies  above  can  be  gained  by 
such  only  as  come  by  the  door,  which  is  Christ,  the  good  sh.ep- 
— Hutch.  Led.  \m.  As  the  contiguity  of  a  fall  of  water 
to  a  field  of  standing  corn  gWes  vigor  to  the  plant — so  the  graces 
of  the  divine  spirit  are  the  nourisiiment  of  the  good  man's  piety. 


G.  .A  bountiful  Pi-ovidence  has  supplied  us,  while  w^e  sojoui'n 
below,  not  only  with  com,  and  the  other  nutritious  fruits  of  the 
earth,  but  wdth  ''wine  to  gladden  the  h.eart,  and  oiL  to  give  ns  a 
cheerful  countenance."  The  first  may  be  considered  as  emblem- 
atical of  plenty;  the  second  of  health  ;  and  the  third  of  peace. 

H,  .  .For  he  cast  tw^o  pillars  of  brass,  of  eighteen  cubits 
high  a-piece  :  and  a  line  of  twelve  cubits  did  compass  either  of 


SECOND  SECTION. 


21 


them  about.  And  he  set  up  the  pillars  in  the  porch  of  the 
temple  :  and  he  set  up  the  right  pillar,  and  called  the  name  there- 
of Jachin  ;  and  he  set  up  the  left  pillar,  and  called  the  name 
thereof  Boaz.  And  upon  the  top  of  the  pillars  was  lily-work  : 
so  was  the  work  of  the  pillars  finished. — 1  Kings  vii,  IS — 22. 

/.  .  .And  a  chapiter  of  brass  was  upon  it ;  and  the  hight  of  one 
chapiter  was  five  cubits,  with  net-work  and  pomegranates  upon 
the  chapiters  round  about,  all  of  brass.  The  second  pillar,  and 
the  pomegranates  were  like  unto  these.  And  there  were  ninety 
and  six  pomegranates  on  a  side  ;  and  all  the  pomegranates  upon 
the  net-work  were  an  hundred  round  about. — Jer.  Hi,  22,  23. 
And  he  made  two  chapiters  of  molten  brass  to  set  upon  the  top 
of  the  pillars  :  the  hight  of  the  one  chapiter  was  five  cubits,  and 
the  hight  of  the  other  chapiter  was  five  cubits.  And  nets  of 
checker- work  and  wreaths  of  chain -work,  for  the  chapiters  which 
were  upon  the  top  of  the  pillars  ;  seven  for  the  one  chapiter,  and 
seven  for  the  other  chapiter.  And  he  made  the  pillars,  and  two 
rows  round  about  upon  the  one  net-work,  to  cover  the  chapiters 
that  w^ere  upon  the  top,  with  pomegranates  ;  and  so  did  he  for 
the  other  chapiter.  And  the  chapiters  that  were  upon  the  top 
of  the  pillars  were  of  lily-work  in  the  porch,  four  cubits.  And 
the  chapiters  upon  the  two  pillars  had  pomegranates  also  above, 
and  the  pomegranates  were  two  hundred  in  rows  round  about 
upon  the  other  chapiter. — 1  Kings  vii,  16,  20. 

K,  .  .And  on  the  seventh  day  God  ended  his  work  which  he 
had  made  :  and  he  rested  on  the  seventh  day  from  all  his  work 
which  he  had  made.  And  God  blessed  the  seventh  day,  and 
sanctified  it :  because  that  in  it  he  had  rested  from  all  his  work. 
—  Gen.  ii,  2,  3.  Remember  the  Sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy. 
Six  days  shalt  thou  labor,  and  do  all  thy  work  :  but  the  seventh 
is  the  sabbath  day  of  the  Lord  thy  God  :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do 
any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter,  thy  man-servant, 
nor  thy  maid-servant,  nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is 
within  thy  gates  :  for  in  six  days  the  Lord  made  heaven  and 
earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is. — JExod,  xx,  8 — IL 

K  .  .This  institution  is  among  the  earliest  records  of  the  world, 
and  the  day  was  instituted  as  a  season  of  devotion,  in  the  first 
division  of  time  after  creation.  It  being  the  season  selected  for 
rest  and  refreshment  after  the  completion  of  the  labors  of  the 
Supreme  Architect,  the  sabbath  is  peculiarly  regarded  among 
masons. —  Compiler, 
3 


22 


FELLOW  CRAFT. 


SECOND  SECTION. 


23 


In  six  days  creation  was  perfected,  the  7tli  was  consecrated 
to  rest.  On  the  7th  of  the  7th  month,  a  holy  observance  was 
ordained  to  the  children  of  Israel,  who  feasted  1  days,  and  re- 
mained 7  days  in  tents ;  the  7th  year  was  directed  to  be  a  Sab- 
bath of  rest  for  all  things,  and  at  the  end  of  7  times  7  years 
commenced  the  grand  Jubilee  ;  ^every  7th  year  the  land  lay  fal- 
loAv  ;  every  7th  year  there  was  a  general  release  from  all  debts, 
and  all  bondsmen  were  set  free  ;  (from  this  law  may  have  ori- 
ginated the  old  custom  of  binding  young  men  to  7  years*  appren- 
ticeship, and  of  punishing  incorrigible  offenders  by  transportation 
for  7,  twice  7,  or  three  times  7  years  ;)  every  7th  year  the  law 
was  directed  to  be  read  to  the  people.  Jacob  served  Laban  7 
years  for  his  daughter  Rachel,  7  years  for  Leah,  and  7  years  for 
his  cattle.  Noah  had  7  days*  warning  of  the  flood,  and  was 
commanded  to  take  the  fowls  of  the  air  into  the  ark  by  7s,  and 
the  clean  beasts  by  7s  ;  the  ark  touched  the  ground  on  the  7th 
month,  and  in  7  days  a  dove  was  sent  out,  and  again  in  7  days 
after.  The  7  years  of  plenty  and  the  7  years  of  famine  were 
foretold  in  Pharaoh's  dream,  by  the  7  fat  and  the  7  lean  beasts, 
and  by  the  7  ears  of  full  and  the  7  ears  of  blasted  corn.  The 
young  animals  were  to  remain  with  the  dam  7  days,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  7th  to  be  taken  away.  By  the  old  law,  man  was 
commanded  to  forgive  his  offending  brother  7  times,  but  the 
meekness  of  the  last  revealed  religion  extended  his  humility  and 
forbearance  to  70  times  7  ;  *'If  Cain  shall  be  revenged  7  fold, 
truly  Lamech  70  times  7."  In  the  destruction  of  Jericho,  7 
priests  bore  7  trumpets  7  days  ;  on  the  7th  day,  they  surrounded 
the  walls  7  times,  and  after  the  7th  time  the  walls  fell.  Balaam 
prepared  7  bullocks  and  7  rams  for  a  sacrifice.  7  of  Saul's  sons 
w^ere  hanged  to  stay  a  famine.  Laban  pursued  Jacob  7  days' 
journey.  Job's  friends  sat  with  him  7  days  and  7  nights,  and 
offered  7  bullocks  and  7  rams  as  an  atonement  for  their  wicked- 
ness. David,  in  bringing  up  the  ark,  ofiered  7  bullocks  and 
7  rams.  Elijah  sent  his  servant  7  times  to  look  for  the  cloud. 
Hezekiah,  in  cleansing  the  temple,  offered  7  bullocks  and  7  rams 
and  7  he-goats  for  a  sin-oiFering  ;  after  he  took  away  the  strange 
altars,  the  children  of  Israel  kept  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread 
7  days,  and  again  other  7  days.  King  Ahasuerus  had  7  cham- 
berlains ;  he  made  a  7  days'  feast,  and  sent  for  the  Queen  on 
the  7th  day  ;  Esther  had  7  maids  to  attend  her  ;  in  the  7th  year 
of  his  reign,  Esther  is  made  Queen.  Solomon  was  7  years 
building  the  temple,  at  the  dedication  of  which  he  feasted  7  days. 


24 


FELLOW  CRAFT. 


In  the  tabernacle  were  7  lamps,  7  days  were  appointed  for  an 
atonement  upon  the  altar,  and  the  priest's  son  was  ordained  to 
wear  his  father's  garments  7  days.  The  children  of  Israel  ate 
unleavened  bread  7  days  ;  Abraham  gave  7  ewe  lambs  to  Abi- 
melech,  as  a  memorial  for  a  well ;  Joseph  mourned  7  days  for 
Jacob.  The  Rabbins  say  God  employed  the  power  of  answering 
this  number  to  perfect  the  greatness  of  Samuel,  his  name  an- 
swering the  value  of  the  letters  in  the  Hebrew  word  which 
signifies  7,  whence  Hannah,  his  mother,  in  her  thanks,  says, 
**that  the  barren  had  brought  forth  7."  In  Scripture,  are  enu- 
merated 7  resurrections — the  widow's  son  by  Elias,  the  Shuna- 
mite's  son  by  Elisha,  the  soldier  who  touched  the  bones  of  the 
prophet,  the  daughter  of  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue,  the  widow's 
son,  of  Nain,  Lazarus,  and  our  blessed  Lord.  Out  of  Mary 
Magdalene  were  cast  7  devils  ;  the  Apostles  chose  7  deacons  ; 
Enoch,  who  was  translated,  was  the  7th  after  Adam,  and  Jesus 
Christ  the  77th,  in  a  direct  line.  Our  Saviour  spoke  7  times 
from  the  cross,  on  which  he  remained  7  hours  ;  he  appeared 
7  times  ;  after  7  times  7  days,  he  sent  the  Holy  Ghost.  In  the 
Lord's  Prayer  are  7  petitions,  contained  in  7  times  7  words, 
omitting  those  of  mere  grammatical  connection.  Within  this 
number  are  connected  all  the  mysteries  of  the  Apocalypse,  re- 
vealed to  the  7  churches  of  Asia :  there  appeared  7  golden  can- 
dlesticks, and  7  stars  in  the  hand  of  him  that  was  in  the  midst ; 
7  lamps  being  the  7  spirits  of  God  ;  the  book  with  7  seals  ;  the 
lamb  with  7  horns  and  7  eyes  ;  7  angels  with  7  seals  ;  7  kings  ; 
7  thunders  ;  7  thousand  men  slain  ;  the  dragon  with  7  heads 
and  7  crowns  :  the  beast  with  7  heads  ;  7  ano-els  brino-ino-  7 
plagues,  and  7  phials  of  wrath.  The  vision  of  Daniel  was  70 
weeks.  The  fiery  furnace  was  made  7  times  hotter  for  Shadrach, 
Meshach  and  Abednego.  Nebuchadnezzar  ate  the  grass  of  the 
field  7  years.  The  elders  of  Israel  were  70.  There  are  also 
numbered  7  heavens,  7  planets,  7  stars,  7  wise  men,  7  cham- 
pions of  Christendom,  7  notes  in  music,  7  primary  colors, 
7  deadly  sins  and  7  sacraments  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
The  7th  son  was  considered  as  endov/ed  with  pre-eminent  wis- 
dom ;  the  7th  son  of  a  7th  son  is  still  thought  by  some  to  possess 
the  power  of  healing  diseases  spontaneously.  Perfection  is 
likened  to  gold  7  times  purified  in  the  fire,  and  we  yet  say, 
**you  frighten  me  out  of  my  7  senses."  Anciently,  a  child  was 
not  named  before  7  days,  not  being  accounted  fully  to  have  life 
before  that  periodical  day;  the  teeth  spring  out  in  the  7th 


SECOND  SECTION. 


25 


month,  and  are  slied  and  renewed  in  the  7th  year,  when  infancy 
is  changed  into  childhood  ;  at  thrice  7  years  the  faculties  are 
developed,  manhood  commences,  and  we  become  legally  com- 
petent to  all  civil  acts  ;  at  four  times  7  man  is  in  full  possession 
of  his  strength  ;  at  five  times  7  he  is  fit  for  the  business  of  the 
world  ;  at  six  times  7  he  becomes  grave  and  wise,  or  never  ;  at 
7  times  7  he  is  in  his  apogie,  and  from  that  time  decays  ;  at  eight 
times  7  he  is  in  his  first  climacteric  ;  at  nine  times  7,  or  63,  he 
is  in  his  grand  climacteric,  or  year  of  danger  ;  and  ten  times  7, 
or  three  score  years  and  ten,  has  by  the  royal  prophet  been  pro- 
nounced the  natural  period  of  human  life.  There  were  7  chiefs 
before  Thebes.  The  blood  was  to  be  sprinkled  7  times  before 
the  altar.  Naaman  was  to  be  dipped  7  times  in  Jordan.  Apu- 
leius  speaks  of  dipping  the  head  7  times  in  the  sea  for  purifica- 
tion. In  all  solemn  rites  of  purgation,  dedication,  and  conse- 
cration, the  oil  or  water  was  7  times  sprinkled.  The  house  of 
wisdom,  in  Proverbs,  had  7  pillars. 


L.,  .And  not  only  so,  but 
we  glory  in  tribulations  al- 
so :  knowing  that  tribulation 
worketh  patience  ;  and  pa- 
tience, experience ;  and  ex- 
perience, hope ;  and  hope 
maketh  not  ashamed  ;  because 
the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad 
in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  which  is  given  unto 
us. — Bom,  V,  3 — 5.  For  we 
are  saved  by  hope  :  but  hope 
that  is  seen  is  not  hope  :  for 
what  a  man  seeth,  why  doth 
he  yet  hope  for  ?  But  if  we 
hope  for  that  we  see  not, 
then  do  we  with  patience  wait 
for  it. — Rom.  viii.  24,  25. 
But  Christ  is  a  son  over  his 
own  house  ;  whose  house  are 
we,  if  we  hold  fast  the  con- 
fidence and  the  rejoicing  of 
the  hope  firm  unto  the  end. — 
Heh,  iii,  6. — Prov.  xv.  31. 


26 


FELLOW  CRAFT. 


L. .  .This  Christian  and  masonic  grace  is  equally  important  and 
pleasing  in  this  world  of  uncertainty  and  change.  The  present 
moment  is  sure  to  possess  some  ingredient^  to  embitter  the  cha- 
lice of  mortal  enjoyment,  and  how  effectually  are  we  relieved  by 
the  soothing  HOPE  that  the  deficiences  of  the  present  day  shall 
be  supplied  by  to-morrow.  The  Anchor  which  supports  this 
figure  is  an  emblem  of  security.  When  the  visions  of  hope  are 
real  and  rational,  her  anchor  is  sure  and  steadfast  in  the  harbor 
of  a  celestial  country.  To  this  country  her  finger  is  pointing  as 
the  future  residence  of  the  virtuous  and  good.  Thither  all  good 
masons  hope  at  length  to  arrive. — Mon,  15. 

SCIENCE. 

Composed  by  Companion  S.  Brown. 

When  Science  first  came  to  enlighten  mankind, 
She  sought,  through  the  world,  for  a  home  to  her  mind, 
Where  Genius  might  lend  her  the  aid  of  his  fire, 
And  Art,  with  her  generous  efforts,  conspire. 

She  landed,  at  first,  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile; 
Then  visited  Tyrus,  the  sea- circled  Isle  ; 
In  Greece  she  had  travelled,  but  fled,  in  despair, 
Of  finding  her  favorite  residence  there. 

At  length,  half  resolved  to  remount  on  her  wing, 
She  heard  of  the  wisdom  of  Israel's  king, 
Then  straight  to  Moriah  she  hied  her  away, 
And  high,  on  its  summit,  recumbent  she  lay. 

King  Solomon  saw  her  reclined  on  the  cliff. 
And  sent  the  glad  message  to  Hiram  Abiff, 
Who  flew  to  the  Vision  that  blazed  on  his  sight. 
And  clasp'd  to  his  bosom  the  Spirit  of  Light. 

She  taught  him  the  use  of  the  compass  and  square^ 
And  how  to  erect  the  grand  column  in  air  ; 
She  taught  him  to  work  by  the  level  and  line^ 
And  gave  him  the  corn^  and  the  oil^  and  the  wine. 

She  led  him  by  threes,  and  hy  fives,  and  by  sevens, 
And  show'd  him  the  pathway  that  leads  to  the  heavens, 
Where  sits  the  Grand  Master  who  surely  will  know 
The  craft  that  have  zealously  serv'd  him  below. 


MASTER  MASON. 


27 


JSC— FRIENDSHIP.     ^.—MORALITY.     Z^C— BROTHERLY  LOVE. 

B. .  .If  a  man  say,  I  love  God,  and  liateth  his  brother,  he  is  a 
liar  :  for  he  that  loveth  not  his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen,  how 
can  he  love  God  whom  he  hath  not  seen?  Beloved,  if  God  so 
loved  us,  we  ought  also  to  love  one  another.  And  this  com- 
mandment have  we  from  him,  That  he  who  loveth  God  love  his 
brother  also. — John  iv,  11,  20,  21. 

BC.  ..No  subject  can  more  properly  engage  the  attention  than 
the  humane  and  generous  feelings  planted,  by  nature,  in  the 
human  breast.  Friendship  is  traced  through  the  circle  of  private 
connections  io  the  grand  system  of  universal  philanthropy.  But 
the  hrotherly  love,  so  well  known  in  the  masonic  family,  is  one 
of  the  purest  emanations  of  earthly  friendship.    A  community 


28 


MASTER  MASON. 


of  sentiment  and  feeling  creates  a  community  of  interest,  culti- 
vated and  cherished  by  every  brother. — Free  Mas,  Lib.  121. — 
PresL  27. 

^...Morality  is  practical  Virtue;  or,  in  other  words,  the 
journey  of  Wisdom,  pursuing,  and  disseminating  happiness* 
Strict  morality  is  a  conformation  to  the  laws  of  natural  and  re- 
vealed religion,  as  far  as  those  laws  enjoin  overt  actions  toward 
God  the  creator,  and  man  our  fellow.  It  is  not  a  cold  specula- 
tion, but  a  practical  principle. — Prest.  Lec.  iii.  The  degree  of 
MASTER  MASON  represents  a  man  under  the  Christian  doc- 
trine, saved  from  the  grave  of  iniquit}^  and  raised  to  the  faith  of 
salvation.  Three  ruffian  invaders^  the  World,  the  Flesh,  and 
the  Devil,  had  prostrated  him  in  the  grave  of  spiritual  death. 
The  Law  came  to  his  aid,  but  failed  of  effecting  a  moral  resur- 
rection. Idolatry  offered  her  hand,  but  corruption  itself  was 
defiled  hy  the  touch,  and  the  victim  eluded  her  embrace.  At 
length  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  descended  from  heaven. 
For  a  moment  she  stood  by  the  silent  sepulchre,  and  dropped  a 
tear  upon  the  tomb,  then  pronouncing  the  omnific  word,  the 
sleeping  Lazarus  arose  !  Yes,  when  the  Priest  and  the  Levite 
had  *'gone  by  on  the  other  side,''  the  Good  Samaritan  came  to 
the  aid  of  the  sufferer,  and  poured  the  *'balm  of  Gilead*'  into 
the  bleeding  wound  ! — Key  p.  31. 

E. .  .The  parts  of  a  building  cannot 
be  united  without  proper  cement,  nor 
can  the  social  compact  be  maintained 
without  the  binding  influence  of  cha- 
rity.— Mas.  Lib.  195. 

F. .  .And  it  came  to  pass  in  the 
four  hundred  and  eightieth  year 
after  the  children  of  Israel  were 
come  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  in 
the  fourth  year  of  Solomon's  reign 
over  Israel,  in  the  month  of  Zif, 
which  is  the  second  month,  that 
he  began  to  build  the  house  of  the 
Lord.  And  the  house  which  King 
Solomon  built  for  the  Lord,  the 
length  thereof  was  threescore  cu- 
bits, and  the  breadth  thereof  twenty  cubits,  and  the  hight 
thereof  thirty  cubits.  And  the  porch  before  the  temple  of  the 
house,  twenty  cubits  was  the  length  thereof,  according  to  the 


SECOND  SECTION. 


29 


breadth  of  the  house  ;  and  ten  cubits  was  the  breadth  thereof 
before  the  house.  And  for  the  house  he  made  windows  of  nar- 
row liixhts.  And  against  the  wall  of  the  house  he  built  chambers 
round  about,  against  the  walls  of  the  house  round  about,  both 
of  the  temple  and  of  the  oracle  :  and  he  made  chambers  round 
about.  The  nethermost  chamber  was  five  cubits  broad,  and  the 
middle  was  six  cubits  broad,  and  the  third  was  seven  cubits 
broad  :  for  without  in  the  wall  of  the  house  he  made  narrowed 
rests  round  about,  that  the  beams  should  not  be  fastened  in  the 
w^alls  of  the  house.  And  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the  month  Bui, 
which  is  the  eighth  month,  was  the  house  finished  throughout 
all  the  parts  thereof,  and  according  to  all  the  fashion  of  it.  So 
was  he  seven  years  in  building  it. — 1  JSj^ngs  1-38. 

F . .  .This  famous  fabric  was  situated  on  Mount  Moriah,  near 
the  place  where  the  faith  of  Abraham  was  tried  when  he  was 
commanded  to  offer  his  son  Isaac  upon  the  altar  ;  and  where 
David  appeased  the  destroying  angel,  by  erecting  an  altar  in  the 
threshing  floor  of  Araunah.  It  was  begun  in  the  year  of  the 
world  2992,  and  before  the  Christian  era  1012;  and  was  com- 
pleted in  about  seven  years.  In  the  construction  of  this  grand 
edifice,  Solomon  engaged  the  co-operation  of  Hiram,  the  king  of 
Tyre,  and  of  the  most  skillful  artist  of  that  or  any  age,  called  in 
the  Philistine  dialect,  Abdonemus,  but  in  the  old  Constitutions , 
Amom  or  Hiram- Abbiff,  as  his  assistant  grand  master  of  the 
work.  Under  them  were  20.0  Hadorim,  or  princes  ;  3,300  Me- 
natzchim,  or  expert  master  masons,  as  overseers ;  80,000  Ghib- 
lim,  sculptors  ;  Ishchotzeb,  hewers  ;  and  Benai,  layers  ;  who 
were  ingenious  fellow  crafts :  besides  a  levy  out  of  Israel  of 
30,000  men  under  Adoniram,  the  junior  grand  w^arden,  making 
in  all  113,600  masons,  exclusive  of  the  two  grand  wardens,  em- 
ployed in  the  noble  undertaking.  Besides  these  there  were 
70,000  Ish-Sabal  or  men  of  burthen, — Ander.  Const,  16-25. — 
Hutchinson' s  Lec,  vii. 

H. .  .First. — The  master  mason 
should  not  withdraw  his  hand 
from  a  sinking  brother.  Second. 
— His  foot  should  never  halt  in 
the  pursuit  of  duty.  Third. — His 
prayers  should  ascend  for  the 

distressed.  Fourth. — A  faithful   

hreast  conceals  the  faults  and  the  secrets  of  a  brother.  Fifth.— 
Approaching  evil  is  frequently  averted  by  a  friendly  admonition. 


30 


MASTER  MASON. 


L .  .This  broken  pillar,  supporting  the  volume  of  divine  in- 
spiration— this  virgin  weeping,  with  an  urn  in  her  left  hand,  in 
the  rino'lets  of  whose  hair  the  fino-ers  of  Time  are  entwined — 
together  with  that  bough  of  evergreen  which  speaks  of  immor- 
tality, are  impressive  symbols  to  the  enlightened  brother  of  this 
degree.  They  are  calculated  to  awaken  every  sentiment  of 
respect,  veneration,  and  fraternal  tenderness,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  to  remind  us,  on  the  other,  that  although  time  may  lay  in 
ruins  all  earthly  grandeur,  and  deface  the  loveliness  of  all  terres- 
trial beauty,  there  is  imperisliable  grandeur,  unfading  beauty, 
and  eternal  happiness  above. —  Compiler 


THIRD  SECTION.  31 

In  this  section  many  particulars  relative  to  king  Solomon's  tem- 
ple aie  considered,  and  likewise  certain  hieroglyphical  emblems 
illustrated,  calculated  to  extend  knowledge  and  promote  virtue. 


This  famous  fabric  was  supported  by  fourteen  hundred  and 
fifty-three  columns,  and  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  six 
pilasters  ;  all  hewn  from  the  finest  Parian  marble.  There  were 
employed  in  its  building,  three  Grand  Masters  ;  three  thousand 
and  three  hundred  masters,  or  overseers  of  the  work  ;  eighty 
thousand  Fellow-crafts  ;  and  seventy  thousand  Entered  Appren- 
tices, or  bearers  of  burdens.  All  these  were  classed  and  arranged 
in  such  a  manner  by  the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  that  neither  envy, 
discord,  nor  confusion  were  suffered  to  interrupt  that  universal 
peace  and  tranquillity,  which  pervaded  the  world  at  this  impor- 
tant period. 


7 


511 

■11 

mm 

ill 

1 

1 

\mmmmmmmxti\\\ 
mmmmmmmmL 

K. .  .Human  life  has  three  stages,  youth,  man- 
hood and  old  age  ;  our  being  has  three  periods, 
time,  death  and  eternity  :  and  ancient  craft  ma- 
sonry has  three  degrees. — Mas.  Lib.  188. 


32 


MASTER  MASON. 


A.  .  .This  emblem  of  a  pure  heart  is  peculiarly- 
expressive  ;  for  such  a  heart  perpetually  ascends 
in  perfumes  of  filial  gratitude,  like  the  cloud  of 
celestial  white  that  filled  the  temple  at  Jeru- 
salem, and  the  heaven-descended  flame  that 
burned  continually  in  the  holy  of  holies. — Mon. 
S9.— Free  Mas.  Lib.  \S6.—  CalcoU  9. 

A. .  .Blessed  are  the  meek  :  for  they  shall  inherit  the  earth. 
Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth.  Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A 
city  that  is  set  on  a  hill  can  not  be  hid. — Matt,  v.,  5,  13. 

.  .  B. .  .The  slothful  inactivity  of  the  rational 

drone  is  severely  reproved  by  this  striking 
\''  symbol.  The  industrious  bee  rises  early  to 
the  labors  of  the  summer  day,  gathering 
from  the  masonic  carpet  of  nature  an  ample 
supply  for  the  winter  of  his  year.  By  imi- 
tating this  example,  man  might  enjoy  all 
the  necessaries,  and  even  the  luxuries  of  life  ;  while  he  would 
avoid  vice  and  temptation,  and  merit  the  respect  of  mankind. 
On  the  contrary,  idleness  is  the  parent  of  immorality  and  ruin. — 
Mon.  90.— Free  Mas.  Lib.  186. 

L. .  .Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard  :  consider  her  ways,  and  be 
wise  :  which  provideth  her  meat  in  the  summer,  and  gathereth 
her  food  in  the  harvest.  How  long  wilt  thou  sleep,  0  sluggard  ? 
Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber,  a  little  folding  of  the  hands  to 
sleep  :  so  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  one  that  travelleth. — Frov. 
vi.,  6,  8,  9,  10,  11. 

C. .  .This  emblem  will  convince  the 
mason  of  the  policy  of  preserving  in- 
violably the  important  secrets  which  are 
committed  to  his  breast. — Mon.  69. — 
Free  Mas.  Lib.  187. 

C. .  .Be  ye  afraid  of  the  sword  :  for  wrath  bringetli  the  pun- 
ishments of  the  sword,  that  ye  may  know  there  is  a  judgment. — 
Job  xix,  29.  Even  a  fool,  when  he  holdeth  his  peace,  is 
counted  wise  :  and  he  that  shutteth  his  lips  is  esteemed  a  man 
of  understanding. — Frov.  xvii,  28.  Whoso  keepeth  his  mouth 
and  his  tongue  keepeth  his  soul  from  troubles.   As  he  that  bind- 


THIRD  SECTION. 


33 


eth  a  stone  in  a  sling,  so  is  he  that  giveth  honor  to  a  fool. — 
Prov.  xxvi,  8.  Discretion  shall  preserve  thee,  understanding 
shall  keep  thee. — Prov.  ii,  11. 

D. .  .This  may  remind  us  that,  al- 
though MERCY  delays  the  descending 
stroke  of  justice,  there  is  a  day  ap- 
pointed, in  which  justice  will  be  amply 
avenged,  unless  mercy  shall  secure  us 
in  the  ark  of  her  retreat.  The  sword 
of  Almighty  vengeance  is  drawn  to  reward  iniquity 
— Free  Mas.  Lib.  187. 


-Mon.  91. 


D.  .  .Therefore  the  ungodly  shall  not  stand  in  the  judgment, 
nor  sinners  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous. — Psalm  i,  5. 
If  I  speak  of  strength,  lo,  he  is  strong  :  and  if  of  judgment,  who 
shall  set  me  a  time  to  plead  ?  For  he  is  not  a  man,  as  1  am,  that 
I  should  answer  him.  I  will  say  unto  God,  do  not  condemn 
me. — Job  ix,  19,  32,  also  x,  2. 


il]. .  .That  eye  which  watches  the  movements  of  a  planet,  and 
the  falling  of  a  sparrow,  pervades  the  recesses  of  the  heart,  and 
knows  our  inmost  thoughts. — Mon.  91. — S.  M.  72. 

PJ. .  .For  the  ways  of  man  are  before  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  and 
he  pondereth  all  his  goings. — Prov.  v,  21.  The  eyes  of  the 
Lord  are  in  every  place,  beholding  the  evil  and  the  good. — 
Prov.  XV,  3.  Behold,  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  is  upon  them  that 
fear  him  ;  upon  them  that  hope  in  his  mercy. — Psalm  xxxiii,  1 8. 


e34 


MASTER  MASON. 


F. .  .The  ark,  an  emblem  of 
that  which  survived  the  flood, 
reminds  us  of  that  ark  of  safety 
which  will  waft  us  securely 
over  this  sea  of  troubles,  and, 
when   arrived   in  a  celestial 
harbor,  the  anchor  of  a  well 
grounded  hope  will  moor  us  forever  to  that  peaceful  shore, 
where  ''the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are  at 
rest''— Mon.  91. 

i^. .  .Make  thee  an  ark  of  gopher-wood  ;  rooms  shalt  thou  make 
in  the  ark,  and  shalt  pitch  it  within  and  without  with  pitch.  And 
this  is  the  fashion  which  thou  shalt  make  it  of:  The  length  of 
the  ark  shall  be  three  hundred  cubits,  the  breadth  of  it  fifty  cu- 
bits, and  the  hight  of  it  thirty  cubits.  A  window  shalt  thou 
make  to  the  ark,  and  in  a  cubit  shalt  thou  finish  it  above  ;  and 
the  door  of  the  ark  shalt  thou  set  in  the  side  thereof;  with  lower, 
second,  and  third  stories  shalt  thou  make  it. —  Gen.  vi,  14,  15,  16. 

G.  ..On  this  problem  many  important  de- 
ductions of  geometry  are  founded.  The  pro- 
position is  this,  and  it  is  true  of  every  triangle 
containing  one  right  angle  that,  the  square 
described  upon  the  side  of  the  right  angle,  is 
equal  to  the  sum'  of  the  squares  described 
upon  the  other  two  sides. — Mon.  92. — Free  Mas.  Lib.  187. — 
Eudidy  b.  i.  prop.  47. 

H. .  .As  the  sands  in  the  glass  soon 
measure  the  period  of  an  hour,  so  do 
the  moments  of  our  being  soon  wing 
away  the  season  of  life.  That  which 
is  always  short  is  growing  constantly 
shorter,  till  the  wave  of  time  is  swal- 
lowed by  the  billows  of  eternity.  This 
emblem  is,  therefore,  a  constant  mon- 
itor of  the  shortness  of  human  life. — 
Mon,  92. 

H. .  .Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow  ;  for  thou  knowest  not  what 
a  day  may  bring  forth. — Prov.  xxvii,  1.  My  days  are  swifter 
than  a  weaver's  shuttle.  0  remember  that  my  life  is  wind. — ■ 
Job  vii,  6,  7.    For  we  are  but  of  yesterday,  and  know  nothing, 


THIRD  SECTION. 


35 


because  our  days  upon  earth  are  a  shadow  ;  shall  not  they  teaeh 
thee  and  tell  thee,  and  utter  words  out  of  their  heart. — Job  viii,  9. 
Now  my  days  are  swifter  than  a  post ;  they  are  passed  away  as  the 
swift  ships  :  as  the  eagle  that  hasteth  to  the  prey. — Job  ix,  25,  26. 

I.  .  .As  the  husbandman  mows  his  iCw,,^^ 
meadow  in  due  season,  so  death,  the      \aA  ^^''^''''^S^ 
leveller  of  human  greatness,  sweeps  us  \\ 
away  at  the  appointed  time. — Mon.  93. 
Free  Mas,  Lib,  188. 


L.  .  .The  ashes  of  the  worthy  brother  will  sleep  in  this  hallowed 
receptacle,  till  the  grand  master  shall  order  the  trumpet  to  pro- 
claim, that  '*time  shall  be  no  longer.'' — Compiler, 

M.  .  .This  emblem,  in  its  allusion  to  a  departed  brother,  may 
indeed  demand  the  tear  of  fraternal  sympathy  ;  but  with  reference 
to  ourselves,  if  we  are  the  genuine  children  of  light,  it  may  be 
contem.plated  with  pleasure.  For  what  is  this  world  to  the  good 
man,  but  the  tiling  room  of  heaven  ?  And  what  is  the  grave  but 
the  door  of  the  celestial  lodge,  where  our  brethren  and  our  master 
are  waiting  to  receive  us  with  tokens  of  affection,  and  songs  of 
transport  ? — Compiler, 

N. .  .Though  the  frosts  of  death  may  palsy  the  mortal  tenement 
of  the  soul,  shrouding  it  in  the  coffin,  and  withering  it  in  the 
grave ;  the  soul  itself  remains  unaffected,  flourishing  in  immor- 
tal vigor.  Thus  when  the  good  man  dies,  he  has  only  given  the 
appropriate  watch  word  to  the  grim  tyler  of  eternity,  and  has 
passed  on  to  serve  the  better  master. 

JSf. .  .For  there  is  hope  of  a  tree,  if  it  be  cut  down,  that  it  will 
sprout  again,  and  that  the  tender  branch  thereof  will  not  cease. — 
Job  xiv,  7.  For  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he 
shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth. — Job  xix,  25.  The 
stina:  of  death  is  sin  ;  and  the  strenp'th  of  sin  is  the  law.  But 
thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Behold,  I  show  you  a  mystery  ;  we  shall  not  all 
sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  cbanged,  in  a  moment,  at  the  last 
trump. — 1  Cor,  xv. 


36 


MASTER  MASON. 


0. .  .This  figure  represents  that  state  of  perfection  at  which 
the  good  man  arrives,  by  the  aid  of  vital  religion,  exemplified 
by  a  moral  and  virtuous  life.  As  ''faith  without  works  is  dead/' 
so  works,  without  the  sanctifying  power  of  godliness,  are  **as 
sounding  brass  or  a  tinkling  cymbal/'  Faith  and  works  united, 
are  therefore,  inseparable  constituents  of  the  masonic  character. 
Placed,  as  this  figure  is,  among  the  affecting  emblems  of  mor- 
tality, she  seems  looking  beyond  the  grave  to  the  regions  of 
lastino'  blessedness. 


0.  .  .For  therein  is  the  righteousness  of  God  revealed  from 
faith  to  faith  :  as  it  is  written,  The  just  shall  live  by  faith. — 
Rom.  i,  17.  Therefore  we  conclude  that  a  man  is  justified  by 
faith  without  the  deeds  of  the  law. — Rom.  iii,  28.  Therefore, 
being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. — Rom,  v,  1. 


MARK  MASTER  MASON. 


37 


A—F R  A  Y  E  R . 

A. . .  The  repetition  of  this  emblem,  in  each  successive  step 
of  masonry,  is  peculiarly  calculated  to  impress  the  memory 
with  our  constant  obligation  to  piety  and  devotion.  Were  the 
benefactions  of  Providence  but  partially  or  unfrequently  enjoyed, 
perhaps  we  might  forget  that  return  of  gratitude  which  is  the 
only  remuneration  in  our  power  to  make  ;  but  his  benefits  are 
'*new  every  morning  and  fresh  every  moment,''  and  surely  our 
perpetual  thanksgiving  should  ascend  to  heaven. —  Compiler, 
The  degree  of  MARK  MASTER-MASON  may  be  consid- 
ered as  appendant  to  that  of  Fellow  Craft,  although  entirely  dis- 
tinct and  different  from  it.  The  order  and  harmony  which  this 
degree  communicated  to  the  builders  of  the  temple,  at  Jerusalem, 
are  incalculable,  and,  indeed,  without  it,  so  many  workmen  of 
different  nations  would  have  been  in  continual  confusion.  Not 
only  was  each  workman  thereby  known  to  the  Senior  Grand 
Warden,  but  every  part  of  the  workmanship,  for  "that  stupendous 
structure  was  subjected  to  the  nicest  scrutiny — while  every  faith- 
ful laborer  received  with  punctuality  the  rewards  of  industry  and 
skill.  But  it  has  a  speculative  allusion  infinitely  interesting  to 
every  accountable  being.  It  typifies  the  trial  of  the  great  day 
when  every  man's  work  will  be  proved,  whether  it  be  good  or 
bad.  That  which  is  imperfect  will  be  cast  out,  as  unfit  for  the 
New  Jerusalem,  into  which  nothing  can  enter  that  worketh 
abomination  or  maketh  a  lie." — Mon.  73 — 81. 
4 


38 


MARK  MASTEK  MASON. 


7 


7 


5^ 


E, .  .The  Christian  and  advanced  brother  who  has  contempla- 
ted that  precious  stone,  rejected  by  the  builders,"  but  selected 
by  the  Supreme  Architect  and  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  arch 
of  heaven,  will  understand  the  divine  import  of  that  ''new  name, 
which  no  man  knoweth  saving  him  that  receiveth  it."  He  will 
admire  the  patience  with  which  the  Son  of  God  suffered  his  jper- 
fect  worh  to  be  rejected  of  men,  as  a  thing  of  no  value,  though 
■infinitely  better  adapted  to  the  condition  of  man,  in  his  fallen 
state,  than  the  tables  of  stone  given  to  the  prophet  on  the  mount. 
And  happy  will  they  be,  who  shall  be  delivered  from  the  law  of 
Moses  by  the  gospel  of  grace,  and  celebrate  in  a  song  of  triumph 
the  final  reappearing  of  the  Saviour  of  men  to  redeem  his  chosen 
people. —  Gen,  xlix,  29. — Psalm  cxviii. — Isaiah  xxviii,  16. — Lulce 
XX,  27. — Rev.  ii,  17. 


The  vjorMng  tools  of  a  Mark  Master  are  the  Chisel  and  Mallet. 


B.  ,  .To  give  this  emblem  a  more  impressive  force 
than  the  experience  of  the  sons  of  light  can  well  as- 
cribe to  it,  is  beyond  the  power  of  human  language. 
It  may  remind  us  of  that  instrument  in  the  hand 
of  death,  which  shall  ere  long  cut  the  thread  of 
life,  and  launch  our  earthly  ark  upon  the  ocean  of 


etevnitY—Mon.  104. — Free  Mas.  Lib.  212.— Cal.  24. 

C.  .  .This  emblem  will  not  be  forgotten  by  the  i 

Mark  Mason,  for  the  bare  recurrence  of  the  imple-  C 

ment  will  make  a  lasting  impression  on  his  mind.  J 
— Free  Mas.  Lib.  2\2.—  Cal.  24. 


SECOND  SECTION. 


39 


D. . .  That  honesty  is  the  best  policy,  is  an  adage  no  more  trite 
than  true.  But  honesty  toward  a  brother,  or  the  family  where 
our  "best  friends  and  kindred  dwell"  would  seem  more  than 
policy,  it  must  be  dzity.  Surely  then,  an  emblem  which  con- 
tinually calls  to  mind  this  important  duty  must  prove  a  salutary 
monitor  to  the  masonic  brother.  The  consequences  of  fraud  and 
deception  are  likewise  to  be  deprecated.  To  be  good  we  must  be 
honest ;  and  true  it  is,  that,  he  who  will  take  an  advantage  of  the 
sensibilities  and  confidence  of  a  brother  to  defraud  and  overreach 
him,  whatever  name  he  bear,  must  be  deserving  of  the  abhor- 
rence of  the  human  race. — Free.  Mas.  Lib.  210. 

JD.  .  .If  thy  hand  or  thy  foot  offend  thee,  cut  them  off,  and 
cast  them  from  thee  :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life  halt  or 
maimed,  rather  than  having  two  hands  or  two  feet  to  be  cast  into 
everlasting  fire. — Matt,  xviii,  8.  And  through  a  window,  in  a 
basket,  was  I  let  down  by  the  wall,  and  escaped  his  hands. —  2 
Cor.  xi,  33. 


40 


MARK  MASTER. 


MARK  MASTERS'  ODE. 


ADAPTED  AND  ARRANGED  BY  BRO.  JAS.  "D,  TAYLOR. 


PIANOFORTE  / 

Or  / 

MElODEOJf.  \ 


~0  0  1  f 

i  1  isish- 


1.  Mark  Masters    all   appear,  Before      the  Chief  O'erseer, 

2.  You  who  have  pass'd  the  square,  For  your  re  -  ward  prepare, 


-I 


3^ 


In  con  -  cert  move  ; 
Join    heart  and  hand; 


Let  him  your  work  in  -  spect,  For  the  Chief 
Each  with    his   mark  in    view,  March  with  the 


A  1 


Ar  -  chi  -  tect,  If  there  be 
just  and   true,  Wa  -  ges  to 


no  de  -  feet.  He  will  approve, 
you    are  due.   At     your  command. 


3  Hiram,  the  widow's  son, 
Sent  unto  Solomon 

Our  great  key- stone  ; 
On  it  appears  the  name 
Which  raises  high  the  fame 
Of  all  to  whom  the  same 

Is  truly  known. 


4  Now  to  the  westward  move. 
Where,  full  of  strength  and  love, 

Hiram  doth  stand ; 
But  if  impostors  are 
Mixed  with  the  worthy  there, 
Caution  them  to  beware 

Of  the  right  hand. 


—CEREMONIES. — 


5  Now  to  the  praise  of  those 
Who  triuraph'd  o'er  the  foes 

Of  Mason's  art ; 
To  the  praiseworthy  three, 
Who  founded  this  degree, 
May  all  t.heir  virtues  be 
Deep  in  our  hearts. 


PAST  MASTKE. 


41 


42 


PAST  MASTER. 


avoid  the  abuse  of  that  power,  limiting  his  jurisdiction  and  pre- 
scribing his  conduct.  They  likewise  afford  him  copious  topics 
of  advice  to  such  as  assist  him  in  the  government  of  the  frater- 
nity, as  well  as  to  all  the  brethren  over  whom  he  is  called  to  pre- 
side. He  may  descant  on  the  excellence  of  the  holy  writings 
as  a  rule  of  life  ; — for  those  writings  teach  us  that  being  born 
upon  a  level,  we  should  act  upon  the  square,  circumscribing  our 
desires  within  the  compass  of  Nature's  gifts,  poured  from  the 
horn  of  plenty.  Here  also,  he  may  exhort  them  to  walk  upright- 
ly, suffering  neither  the  pressure  of  poverty,  nor  the  avarice  of 
riches  to  tempt  the  heart,  for  a  moment,  to  swerve  from  the  line 
of  rectitude  which  is  suspended  before  them  from  the  centre  of 
heaven.  The  division  of  time  into  equal  and  regular  portions, 
he  may  also  urge  as  the  surest  method  of  securing  the  greatest 
good  from  the  opportunities  that  are  afforded  us.  The  subjection 
of  our  passions  and  desires  is  here  likewise  taught  by  the  gavel, 
which  is  used  by  the  operative  builder  to  remove  the  excres- 
cences and  to  smooth  the  surfaces  of  the  rough  materials  for  a 
building ;  while  the  By-Laws  of  the  lodge  regulate  the  deport- 
ment of  the  Craftsmen,  while  assembled  for  the  purposes  of 
social  improvement  and  mental  recreation,  and  while  separated 
from  the  rest  of  mankind  and  placed  among  none  but  brethren. — 
Mon.  127.  The  degree  of  PRESENT,  or  PAST  MASTER  is  de- 
signed not  only  io  honor  such  of  the  brethren  as  are  deserving  of 
the  particular  confidence,  affection,  and  respect  of  the  craft,  but 
also,  and  more  especially,  to  instruct  the  advanced  brother  in  the 
art  of  presiding  with  dignity  and  imling  with  moderation,  in  the 
various  offices  of  domestic  and  public  life.  Even  the  father  of  a 
family  needs  the  distinguishing  qualities  of  prudence,  calmness 
and  forbearance  joined  with  a  saKrtary  firmness,  in  the  g<wern- 
ment  of  his  domestic  circle.  While  he  demands  prompt  obedi- 
ence, he  should  exercise  an  affectionate  moderation.  So  also  of 
tlie  man  intrusted  with  public  office — he  should  mingle  the  sweet- 
ness of  mercy  with  the  necessary  severity  of  justice. — Rev.  xi,  1. 
— JEzeJciah  xi,  3. — 1  Kings  vii,  21. 

C. .  Who  can  see  this  line  of  rectitude  suspended  before  him, 
and  forget  that  uprightness  of  conduct  is  the  ornament  of  this 
life,  and  the  standard  by  which  we  are  to  be  tried  in  order  to  our 
admission  to  the  next  ?  By  this  emblem  we  are  reminded  of 
our  duty  to  our  maker  as  well  as  to  our  fellow  men,  whether 
brethren  or  others. —  Compiler. 


MOST  EXCELLENT  MASTER. 


43 


A-B,.  .As  the 

ark  of  the  co- 
venant, while  in 
the  house  of 
Obed-edom,  was 
the  occasion  of 
temporal  pros- 
perity to  that  house  ;  so  the  ark  of  spiritual 
safety  is  the  salvation  of  all  who  believe. 
As,  at  the  removal  of  the  typical  ark  to  its 
resting  place,  by  the  king  of  Israel,  a  song 
of  triumph  was  sung ;  so,  when  the  Saviour 
of  men  reascended  to  glory,  the  stone  which 
the  builders  rejected  was  received  with  celes- 
tial transports,  and  all  the  angelic  host 
shouted  "  grace,  grace  unto  it."  When  it 
was  seen  that  this  precious  stone  was  pol- 
ished after  the  similitude  of  a  palace,"  and, 
like  a  mirror,  reflected  the  image  of  Deity 
— the  holy  of  holies  was  filled  with  the  in- 
cense of  seraphic  adoration — kindled  by  a  flame  from  the  altar  of 
God.  To  the  horns  of  this  spiritual  altar,  we  may  betake  our- 
selves and  be  forever  safe  from  the  destroyer. — Compiler.  He  who 
\\?iS>passed,  with  approbation,  the  oriental  chair,  and  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinguishing honor  of  being  received  and  acknowlec^ged  a  MOST 
EXCELLENT  MASTER,  may  reflect  with  pleasure  that,  next  to 


44 


MOST  EXCELLENT  MASTER. 


the  smile  of  conscience  and  of  heaven,  the  faithful  performance  of 
our  respective  duties  in  life  is  our  purest  consolation. —  Compiler, 


C.  .  .Who  art  thou,  great  mountain  ?  before  Zerubbabel  thou 
shalt  become  a  plain  ;  and  he  shall  bring  forth  the  head  stone 
thereof  with  shootings,  crying,  grace  unto  it. — Zech,  iv,  7. 

C. .  .To  most  men  the  end  of  life  is  anticipated  with  horror  ; 
insomuch  that  thousands  of  mankind  would  relinquish  the  op- 
portunity of  gaining  an  inheritance  ^'incorruptible,"  in  a  better 
country,  even  a  heavenly,"  if  this  life  could  be  immortal.  Not 
so  with  the  truly  good  man.  He  anticipates,  with  pleasure,  a 
season  of  rest  and  relief  from  mortal  labors,  when  the  grosser 
implements  of  sublunary  arts  shall  be  suspended  in  the  desolated 
halls  of  mortality,  that  the  harp  of  angels  may  employ  his  hands 
forever.  Then,  will  there  be  **no  more  occasion  for  Level  or 
Plumb-line,  for  Trowel  or  Gavel,  for  Compass  or  Square."  On 
the  perfect  Level  of  eternity,  neither  weakness  nor  envy  will  jeo- 
pardize the  good  man's  bright  career  ;  nor  will  he  need  an  em- 
blem of  rectitude,  while  the  example  of  sister-spirits  is  ever  before 
him.  The  cement  of  heavenly  love  will  be  spread  by  the  hand 
of  Deity,  and  no  imperfection  will  require  the  force  of  art  to  re- 
move it.  Infinitely  broad  will  be  the  circle  of  duty,  and  no 
brother  will  be  disposed  to  overleap  its  boundaries,  for  all  will  be 
kept  within  the  angle  of  perfection,  by  him  who  is  able  to  keep 
us  from  falling,  and  to  present  us  faultless  before  the  presence 
of  his  glory,  with  exceeding  joy."  There  the  general  grand 
LODGE  of  immortality  will  hold  an  endless  communication,  con- 
sisting of  the  frate?'nity  of  the  accepted. —  Compiler, 


ROYAL  AKCH. 


45 


A—F  R  A  Y  E  R. 


A, .  .The  necessity  and  the  frequency  of  this  duty  is  as  clearly 
important  to  the  aged  as  to  the  young  ;  on  the  borders  of  the 
grave,  as  in  the  flower  of  manhood.  Ii  was  pointed  out  lo  man, 
in  the  earliest  ages  of  the  wt)rkl,  as  a  suitable  medium  of  (com- 
munion between  earth  and  heaven.  Indeed,  it  is  the  ladder  of 
the  'patriarch,  on  which  angels  descend  to  minislei*  to  ihe  happi- 
ness of  mortals.  How  admirably  fitted  are  its  three  principal 
rounds  for  the  flio-ht  of  the  soul  to  hei"  immortal  mansion  !  Its 
benefits  ai-e  immeasurable,  and  its  obligatory  force  is  (jommen- 
surate  with  probationary'  being.  It  can  never  be  unimpoi-tant 
and  useless  till  tlie  exalted  brother  sliall  have  passed  through  the 
veils  to  repose  on  the  bosom  of  his  maker.  Tlien,  in  the  holy  of 
holies — shall  he  behold  his  supreme  high  priest,  presiding  for- 
ever in  the  grand  council  of  Heaven. — Mon.  130. 


B 


^. .  .  This  building  was  erected  in  the  wilderness  by  the  ex- 
press command  of  God,  and  after  the  pattern  given  to  Moses 
5 


46 


ROYAL  AiiCH. 


in  the  mount.  The  design  of  the  tabernacle  was  to  com- 
memorate the  miraculous  delivei'ance  of  the  children  of  Israel 
from  the  hosts  of  Pharaoh.  It  was  but  a  temporary  struc- 
ture, and  prefigured  the  temple  which  was  to  be  afterward 
erected  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  as  a  type  of  the  august  and  im- 
mortal temple  above. — Mon.  139. — Heh.  ix,  1 — 5. — Jo.  b.  iii, 
ch.  vi.  This  degree  of  Royal  Arch  masonry  is  incomparably 
more  sublime  than  any  which  goes  before  it — impressing  the 
mind  with  sensible  demonstrations  of  the  being  and  perfections 
of  God,  as  well  as  of  the  merits  and  obedience  of  his  Son, 
our  Lord  and  Saviour. — Ex.niy  13 — 14, — vi,  2,  2. — 2  Chron, 
xxxvi,  11 — 20,  and  Ix. — Ezra  i,  1 — 3. — Jo.  xlii,  16. 

C. . .  And  he  made  the 
veil  of  blue,  and  purple, 
and  crimson,  and  fine  lin- 
en, and  wrought  cherubim 
thereon, — 2  Chron.  iii,  14, 
for  by  it  the  elders  obtained 
a  good  report.  Through 
faith  we  understand  that 
the  worlds  were  framed  by 
the  word  of  God,  so  that 
things  which  are  seen  were 
not  made  of  things  which 
do  appear.  By  faith  Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent 
sacrifice  than  Cain,  by  which  he  obtained  witness  that  he  was 
righteous,  God  testifying  of  his  gifts:  and  by  it  he  being  dead 
yet  speaketli. — Fleh.  xi,  2 — 5. — Matt,  xxvii,  51, 

D. .  .When  we  enter  into  the  v/orld  and  discover  around  us  the 
efiects  of  the  artifice  of  the  tempter  in  the  garden  ;  and  when  we 
behold  this  arch  apostate  transformed  irito  a,  serpent,  we  have 
passed  the  first  veil  of  our  existence.  At  the  close  of  life,  when 
we  are  called  from  this  probationary  scene  and  prostrated  in  the 
"pallid  leprosy  of  death,  tlie  second  veil  is  drawn  behind  us.  In 
the  morning  of  tlie  resurrection,  when  the  slumbering  ashes  shall 
revive,  and  we  learn  that  the  words  of  the  woman  of  Tekoa  are 
untrue,  when  she  declares  that  "we  are  as  water  spilt  upon  ike 
ground  v>^hich  cannot  be  gathered  up  then  shall  th.e  third  veil 
be  parted  before  us.  Judgment  being  ended,  "  the  righteous 
will  be  separated  to  life  eternal,''  having  the  stamp  of  the  signet 
of  heaven  on  their  foreheads,  and  will  be  received  by  the  captam 
of  salvation.- 


SECOND  SECTION. 


. .  Perhaps  the  ineffable 
brightness  of  the  God-head,  was 
never  so  clearly  beamed  upon 
mortal  vision  as  in  that  memorable 
transaction  which  this  symbol  is 
designed  to  signfy.  We  are  as- 
sured that  **  No  man  can  see  God 
and  live/'  Thence  it  was  that  the 
prophet  ^'liid  his  face,''  being  un- 
able to  sustain  the  bright  effulgence 
of  uncreated  glory.  In  order  to 
gain  admission  into  the  heavenly 
mount,  burning  with  greater  brillancy  than  that  which  dazzled 
the  prophet  of  Sinai,  we  must  be    purified  as  by  fire." 


i^.  .  .Therefore  he  brought  upon  tliem  t];e  king  of  the  Chaldees, 
who  slew  their  young  men  wiih  ihe  swoi-d,  in  tlie  house  of  their 
sanctuary,  and  had  no  compassion  upon  young  men  or  maiden, 
old  men,  or  him  that  stooped  for  age  :  he  gave  them  all  into  his 
hand.  And  all  the  vessels  of  the  house  of  God,  great  and  small, 
and  the  treasures  of  the 

house  of  the  Lord,  and  ^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

the  treasures  of  the  king,  ~  ; 

and  of  bis  princes  ;  all 

these  he  brought  to  -^V""i 
Babylon.     And  they 

burnt  the  house  of  God,  I 
and  brake  down  the  4 
wall  of  Jerusalem,  and  ^ 
burnt  all  the  palaces  -r 
thereof  with  fire,  and  -  f 

destroyed  all  the  goodly 
vessels  thereof.  And 
them  that  had  escaped 
from  the  sword,  car- 
ried he  away  to  Ba- 
bylon :  where  they  were 
servants  to  him  and  his 
sons,  until  the  reign  of 
the  kingdom  of  Persia. 
— 2Chron.  xxxvi,  17 — 20, 


48 


ROYAL  AROH. 


G...l^ow  in  the  first  year  of  Cyrus,  king  of  Persia,  the  Lord  stir- 
red up  the  spirit  of  Cyiais,  king  ofPei'sia,  lliat  he  made  a  pi-oclama- 
tion  thi-oughout  all  his  kingdom,  and  put,  it  also  in  wriiing,  say- 
ing, Thus  saiili  Cyius,  king  of  Persia,  Tlie  Lord  God  of  heaven 
hath  givtr^n  me  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  and  he  haih  charg- 
ed me  to  build  him  an  house  at  Jerusalem,  which  is  in  Judah. 

PROCLAMATION  OF  CYRUS. 

WHO  IS  THERE  AMONG  YOU  OF  ALL  HIS  PEOPLE?  HTS 
GOD  BE  WITH  HIM,  AND  LET  HIM  GO  UP  TO  JERUSALEM 
WHICH  IS  IN  JUDAH,  AND  BUILD  THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  LORD 
GOD  OF  ISRAEL,  HE  IS  THE  GOD,  WHICH  IS  IN  JERUSALEM. 
— Ezra  i,  1 — 3. 


And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  when  I  come  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  and  shall  say  unto  them,  The  God  of  your 
fathers  hath  sent  me  unto  you  ;  and  they  shall  say  to  me,  What 
is  his  name  ?  what  shall  I  say  unto  them  ? 

And  God  said  unto  Moses,  I  am  that  I  am  :  And  thus  shalt 
thou  sav  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  am  hath  sent  me  unto  you. 
—Exod.  iii,  13,  14. 

L. .  .  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  What  is  that  in  thy  hand, 
and  he  said  a  rod.   And  he  said,  Cast  it  on  the  ground.  And  he 


SECOND  SECTION. 


49 


cast  it  on  the  ground,  and  it  became  a  serpent ;  and  Moses  fled 
from  before  it.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Put  forth  thy 
hand  and  lake  it  by  the  tail.  And  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and 
caut^-ht  it,  and  it  became  a  rod  in  his  hand. — Exod.  iv,  3 — 4. 

And  the  Lord  said  furthermore  unto  him,  Put  now  thy  hand 
into  thy  bosom.  And  he  put  his  hand  into  his  bosom  :  and  when 
he  took  it  out,  behold,  his  hand  was  leprous  as  snow.  And  he 
said,  Put  thy  hand  into  thy  bosom  again.  And  he  put  his  hand 
into  his  bosom  again,  and  plucked  it  out  of  his  bosom  ;  and,  be- 
hold, it  was  turned  again  as  his  other  flesh. — Exod.  iv,  6,  7. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  they  will  not  believe  also  these 
two  signs, thou  shalt  take  of  the  water  of  the  river,  and  pour 
it  upon  the  dry  land  ;  and  the  water  which  thou  takest  out  of  the 
river  shall  become  blood  upon  the  dry  land. — Exod.  iv,  9. 


H, .  .And  thou  shalt  make  the  breast-plate  of  judgment  with 
cunnino'  work  ;  and  thou  shalt  set  it  in  settino*  of  stones,  even 
four  rows  of  stones  :  the  first  row  shall  be  a  sardius,  a  topaz, 
and  a  carbuncle.  And  the  second  row  shall  be  an  emerald,  a 
sapphire,  and  a  diamond.  And  the  third  row  a  ligure,  an  agate, 
and  an  amethyst.  And  the  fourth  row  a  beryl,  and  an  onyx, 
and  a  jasper  :  they  shall  be  set  in  gold  in  their  inclosings.  And 
the  stones  shall  be  with  the  names  of  the  children  of  Lsrael, 
twelve,  accordino'  to  their  names,  like  the  eno-ravino-s  of  a  sio-net. — 
Exod.  xxviii,  15,  17.  And  thou  shalt  make  the  robe  of  the  ephod 
all  of  blue.  And  beneath,  upon  the  hem  of  it  thou  shalt  make 
pomegranates  of  blue,  and  of  purple,  and  of  scarlet,  round  about 
the  iiem  thei'eof ;  and  bells  of  gold  between  them  round  about. — 
Exod.  xxviii,  31 — 33.  And  they  made  the  plate  of  the  holy  crown 
of  pure  gold,  and  wrote  upon  it  a  writino',  like  to  the  engravings 
of  a  signet,  HOLINESS  TO  THE  1.6m).— Exod.  xxxix,  30. 


50  ROYAL  ARCH. 


%  %  % 


I..  .This  affecting  emblem,  as  masonically  contemplated,  has  a 
twofold  reference,  peculiarly  calculated  to  awaken  reverence  on 
the  one  hand  and  devotion  on  the  other. —  Compiler, 


J.  .  .Since  ihe  sentence  of  heaven  has  gone  forth,  In  the 
sweat  of  thy  face  shale  thou  eat  bread,"  it  becomes  us  clieerfully 
to  submit,  laboring  industriously  in  our  respective  callings  ;  and 
though  we  may  be  ''ashamed  to  beg,''  wliile  we  are  in  health,  it 
is  ever  honorable  to  dig  for  golden  or  vegetable  ti'easures  in  the 
bowels  of  the  earth. —  Compiler.  These  ligures  admit  of  a  two- 
fold reference,  well  undeistood  by  every  intelligent  Companion. 
They  claim  the  veneration  of  all  good  masons,  as  well  for  their 
direct,  as  for  their  indirect  allusions.  Tlie  persons  immediately 
represented  v>^ere  deserving  of  the  highesL  regard  v/hile  in  their 
earthly  tabernacle,  and  they  i-emind  us  of  that  distinction  which 
is  due  to  merit,  and  of  tliat  respect  which  our  order  are  so  prone 
to  entertain  for  all  in  civil  authority,  and  places  of  political  trust. 
— Joseplius,  ^oo^iii,  sections. 

*'  This  is  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto  Zevubbabel,  saying,  Not 
by  might  nor  power,  but  by  my  spirit.    Who  art  thou,  O  great 


SECOND  SECTION. 


51 


mountain  ?  before  Zerubbabel  thou  shall;  become  a  plain,  and 
he  shall  bring  forth  the  head  stone  thereof  with  shoutings,  crjnng, 
Grace,  grace  unto  it.  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
me,  saying,  The  hands  of  Zei-ubbabel  liave  laid  the  foundation 
of  this  house,  his  hands  shall  also  finish  it ;  and  thou  shalfc 
know  that  the  Lord  of  Hosts  haih  sent  me  unto  you.  For  who 
hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things  ?  for  they  shall  rejoice, 
and  shall  see  the  plummet  in  the  hands  of  Zerubbabel  with  those 
seven." — Zech,  iv,  6 — 10. 

^     *  * 


K..  .These  implements  have  been  already  explained,  but  every 
Companion  has  a  satisfoctory  reason  why  they  are  here  placed. 
Do  they  not  remind  us  of  three  ancient  worthies  who  have  been 
sleeping  for  ages  in  ihe  dust,  and  on  whose  graves  the  tears  of 
thousands  successively  fall,  nourishing  the  balmy  cassia  that 
flourishes  there  ? — Compiler. 

L — M  .  .  .For  there  was  a  tabernacle  made  ;  the  first,  where- 
in was  the  candlestick,  and  the  table,  and  the  shewbread  ;  which 
is  called  the  Sanciuary.  And  after  the  second  veil,  the  taber- 
nacle wliich  is  called  the  holiest  of  all  ;  wlrich  had  the  o-olden 
censer,  and  the  ark  of  the  covenant  ovei'laid  round  about  with 
gold,  wherein  was  the  golden  iiot  that  had  manna,  and  Aaron's 
rod  that  budded,  and  the  tables  of  the  covenant  ;  and  over  it  the 
cherubiinsof  glory,  shadowing  the  mercy  seat ;  of  which  we  can 
not  «ow  speak  particularly. — Heh.  ix,  3 — 4. 

In  that  day  will  I  raise  up  the  tabernacle  of  David  that  is 
fallen,  and  close  up  the  breaches  thereof,  and  I  will  raise  up  his 
ruins,  and  I  will  build  it  as  in  the  days  of  old." — Amos,  ix,  11 


52 


EOTAL  AECH. 


mm 

HI 

ALJF  30001 

'"'ll""'l""ll'llHn,lill,ilHlll.„MIIIIHIIIIII>7ll7H 

J!/!  .  .This  sacred  treasure,  long  lost,  but  happil}'  found  b}^  an 
ancient  brother,  is  worthy  of  the  strict  perusal  of  every  one, 
whether  a  brother  or  a  stranger. — Specztl.  Mas,  207, 

0. .  .And  Moses  said,  This  is  the  thing  wliich  the  Lord  cora- 
mandeth,  Fill  an  omer  of  it  to  be  kept  for  your  genei-afions  ; 
that  they  may  see  the  bread  where wiih  I  have  fed  you  in  the 
wilderness,  when  I  brought  you  forth  from  the  land  of  Egypt. 

P. .  .Can  the  ma^on  look  at  this  symbol,  budding,  blossoming 
and  bearing  fruit,  in  a  day,  and  not  reflect  on  (he  progi-ess  of  our 
nature  from  youth  to  manhood,  and  fi'om  manhood  to  ti'embling 
decrepitude  ?  Soon  do  the  buds  of  infancy  bloom  on  the  cheek 
of  youth,  and,  as  soon  are  the  blossoms  of  time  succeeded  by  the 
fruits  of  eternity. — Man.  135. 

JS^.  ,  .This  symbol  may  be  improved  to  impress  upon  the  mind 
of  every  Companion,  the  importance  of  those  secrets  which  have 
been  transmitted  through  thirty  centuries,  amidst  bitter  perse- 
cutions, for  the  benefit  of  the  sons  of  light.  As  we  have  thus 
received  them,  untarnished  by  rhe  touch  of  profane  curiosity, 
and  unimpaired  by  the  revolution  of  time  and  empires,  let  us  de- 
liver them,  in  all  their  purity  and  perfection,  to  succeding  breth- 
ren, confident  that  they  Avill  never  be  divulged  to  such  as  are 
unworthy. 


ODES 

MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 

BY  BOB  MORRIS  AND  OTHERS. 


ODES 


FOR 


MASONIC  OCCASIONS, 


SECTION  FIRST. 


Air — See  Manual  Masonic  Idusic,  page  14.* 

Come,  Brothers  of  the  Craft,  unite, 

In  generous  purpose  bound ; 
Let  holy  love  and  radiant  light 

In  all  our  \70rks  be  found. 
Where  columns  rise  in  beauteous  form, 

ITn touched  by  time's  decay, 
We'll  fear  no  dark  or  threat' ning  storm, 

To  cloud  our  passing  day. 

And  as  we  pass  life's  journey  o'er, 

Though  trouble's  waves  may  rise, 
Our  faith  shall  rest  on  that  bright  shore. 

Beyond  the  changing  skies, 
"Where  columns  rise  in  beauteous  form, 

Untouched  by  time's  decay. 
We'll  fear  no  dark  or  threat' ning  storm. 

To  cloud  our  passing  day. 


The  Manned  of  Masoyiic  3[usic  constitutes  the  XXIVth  Volume  of  the  Universal 
MasoRic  Library.  It  contains  121  Masonic  Odes  set  to  nausic  ;  also  a  number  of 
Marches  and  Voluntaries,  and  12G  Odes  unaccompanied  vAth  notes. 


OPENING-  THE 


I.    COME,  BEOTHERS. 


BY  THOMAS  TOWERS. 


(3) 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


2.    THE  MASONS'  HOME. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — Bonny  DoonJ^ 

Where  hearts  are  warm  with  kindred  fire, 

And  love  beams  free  from  answering  eyes, 
Bright  spirits  hover  always  there. 

And  that's  the  home  the  Masons  prize. 

The  Masons'  Home  1  Ah,  peaceful  home. 

The  home  of  love  and  light  and  joy : — 
How  gladly  does  the  Mason  come 
To  share  his  tender,  sweet  employ. 

All  round  the  world,  by  land,  by  sea, 

Where  Summers  burn  or  Winters  chill, 
The  exiled  Mason  turns  to  thee. 

And  yearns  to  share  the  joys  we  feel. 

The  Masons'  Home  !    Ah,  happy  home, 

The  home  of  light  and  love  and  joy: — 
There's  not  an  hour  but  I  would  come 
And  share  this  tender,  sweet  employ. 

A  weary  task,  a  dreary  round, 

Is  all  benighted  man  may  know. 
But  here  a  brighter  scene  is  found, 
The  brightest  scene  that's  found  below. 

The  Masons'  Home  !    Ah,  blissful  home, 

Glad  center  of  unmingled  joy: — 
Long  as  I  live  I'll  gladly  come 

And  share  this  tender,  sweet  employ. 

And  when  the  hour  of  death  shall  come, 

And  darkness  seal  mj  closing  eye, 
May  hands  fraternal  bear  me  home, 
The  home  where  weary  Masons'  lie. 

The  Masons'  Home !    Ah,  heavenly  home, 

To  faithful  hearts  eternal  joy: — 
How  blest  to  find  beyond  the  tomb 
The  end  of  all  our  sweet  employ ! 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


UNIVEKSALITY  OF  FREEMASONRY. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — Feast  of  EosesJ' 

Wherever  man  is  tracing 

The  weary  ways  of  care, 
Midst  wild  and  desert  pacing 

Or  land  of  softer  air, 
We  surely  know  each  other. 

And  with  good  words  of  cheer, 
Each  Brother  hails  his  Brother, 

And  hope  wings  lightly  there. 

Wherever  tears  are  falling, 
The  soul's  dark  wint'ry  rain, 

And  human  sighs  are  calling. 
To  human  hearts  in  vain. 

We  surely  know  each  other,  etc. 

Wherever  prayer  is  spoken 

In  earnestness  of  faith, 
We're  minded  of  the  token 

That  tells  our  Masters  death 
We  pray,  then,  for  each  other,  etc. 

Wherever  man  is  lying, 

Unknowing  and  unknown, 
There's  one  yet  by  the  dying, 

He  shall  not  die  alone  ; 
For  then  we  know  each  other. 

And  with  good  words  of  cheer, 
Each  Brother  hails  his  Brother, 

And  Hope  wings  lightly  there. 

4.    YE  HAPPY  FEW. 

Air — See  Chase's  Masonic  Harp^  p,  22. 

Yq  happy  few  who  here  extend 
In  peaceful  lines,  from  East  to  West, 

With  fervent  zeal  the  Lodge  defend, 
And  lock  its  secrets  in  your  breast. 

Since  ye  are  met  upon  the  Square, 

Bid  Love  and  Friendship  jointly  reign, 

Be  Peace  and  Harmony  your  care, — 
They  form  an  adamantine  chain. 


ODES  FOE  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


SECTION  SECOND. 


INITIATION. 


l.    BEHOLD  HOW  PLEASANT. 

BY  GILES  F.  YATES. 

Air — Aiild  Lang  ByneP 

Behold  how  pleasant  and  how  good 

For  Brethren  such  as  we, 
Of  the  united  Brotherhood, 

To  dwell  in  unity. 
'Tis  like  the  oil  on  Aaron's  head, 

Which  to  his  feet  distills, 
Like  Hermon's  dew  so  richly  shed 

On  Sion's  sacred  hills. 

For  there  the  Lord  of  Light  and  Love 

A  blessing  sent  with  power: — 
Oh  may  we  all  this  blessing  prove 

Even  life  forever  more. 
On  Friendship's  altar,  rising  here, 

Our  hands  now  plighted  be. 
To  live  in  love  with  hearts  sincere. 

In  peace  and  unity. 


S.   WHILE  JOUENEYING. 

Air — Masonic  Musical  3Ianual^  p.  6. 

BY'  THOMAS  POWERS. 

While  journeying  on  our  darksome  way, 

By  love  fraternal  led. 
Supreme  Conductor,  Thee  we  pray, 

To  smooth  the  path  we  tread ; 
No  fear  shall  cross  the  trusting  heart. 

In  faith  reposed  above, 
No  dearer  joy  can  life  impart, 

Than  breathes  in  words  of  Love. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


SECTION  THIRD. 


PASSING. 


I.    BROTHEllS  FAITHFUL. 

BY  HERCULES  ELLIS. 

Air — Masonic  Musical  Manual,  p.  8. 

Brothers  faithful  and  deserving 
Now  the  second  rank  you  fill, 

Purchased  by  your  faultless  serving, 
Leading  to  a  higher  still. 

Thus  from  rank  to  rank  ascending, 
Mounts  the  Mason's  path  of  love, 

Bright  its  earthly  course,  and  ending 
In  the  glorious  Lodge  above. 


SECTION  FOURTH. 


RAISING. 


1.    LET  US  REMEMBER. 

BY  THOMAS  POWERS. 

Air — See  Manual  of  Masonic  MusiCj  p.  10. 

Let  us  remember  in  our  youth, 

Before  the  evil  days  draw  nigh, 
Our  Great  Creator,  and  his  Truth, 

Ere  memory  fail,  and  pleasures  fiy ; 
Or  sun,  or  moon,  or  planet's  light 

Grow  dark,  or  clouds  return  in  gloom ; 
Ere  vital  spark  no  more  incite  ; 

When  strength  shall  bow  and  years  consura 

Let  us  in  youth  remember  Him  ! 

Who  formed  our  frame,  and  spirits  gave, 
Ere  windows  of  the  mind  grow  dim. 

Or  door  of  speech  obstructed  wave ; 
When  voice  of  bird  fresh  terrors  wake, 

And  music's  daughters  charm  no  more, 
Or  fear  to  rise,  with  trembling  shake, 

AloDg  the  path  we  travel  o'er. 


ODES  FOE  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


In  youth,  to  God  let  memory  cling, 

Before  desire  shall  fail  or  wane. 
Or  e'er  be  loosed  life's  silver  string, 

Or  bowl  at  fountain  rent  in  twain ; 
For  man  to  his  long  home  doth  go. 

And  mourners  group  around  his  urn ! 
Our  dust  to  dust  again  must  flow, 

And  spirits  unto  God  return. 


2.    SOLEMN  STRIKES. 

BY  DAVID  VINTON. 

Air — Manual  of  Masonic  Music^  p.  13. 

Solemn  strikes  the  funeral  chime, 
Notes  of  our  departing  time ; 
As  we  journey  here  below, 
Thro'  a  pilgrimage  of  wo. 

Mortals  now  indulge  a  tear, 
For  Mortality  is  here; 
See  how  wide  her  trophies  wave, 
O'er  the  slumbers  of  the  grave. 

Here  another  Guest  we  bring ! 
Seraphs  of  celestial  wing. 
To  our  funeral  altar  come, 
Waft  a  Friend  and  Brother  home. 

Lord  of  all  below,  above. 
Fill  our  souls  with  Truth  and  Love 
As  dissolves  our  earthly  tie. 
Take  us  to  thy  Lodge  on  high. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


SECTION  FIFTH. 


CLOSING. 


1.    ONE  HOUR  WITH  YOU. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — "  Auld  Lang  Syne.'^ 

One  hour  with  you,  one  hour  with  you, 

No  doubt,  nor  care,  nor  strife. 
Is  worth  a  weary  year  of  wo, 

In  all  that  lightens  life. 
One  hour  with  you,  and  you,  and  you, 

Bright  links  in  mystic  chain — 
Oh  may  we  oft  these  joys  renew, 

And  often  meet  again. 

Your  eyes  with  love's  own  language  free, 
Your  hand-grips,  strong  and  true, 

Your  voice,  your  heart,  do  welcome  me 
To  spend  an  hour  with  you,  etc. 

I  come  when  morning  skies  are  bright, 

To  work  my  Mason's  due — 
To  labor  is  my  chief  delight. 

And  spend  an  hour  with  you,  etc. 

I  go  when  evening  gilds  the  west 

I  breathe  the  fond  adieu. 
But  hope  again,  by  fortune  blest. 

To  spend  an  hour  with  you. 
One  hour  with  you,  and  you,  and  you, 

Bright  links  in  mystic  chain— 
Oh  may  we  oft  these  joyS  renew, 

And  often  meet  again. 

BKOTHEES,  ERE  TO-NIGHT. 

BY  G.  W.  CHASE. 

Air — Chasers  Masonic  Harp^  p.  62. 

Brothers,  ere  to-night  we  part, 
Every  voice  and  every  heart, 
Grateful  souls  to  Heaven  raise, 
Hymning  forth  your  songs  of  praise. 


10 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Brothers,  we  may  meet  no  more ; 
Yet  there  is  a  happier  shore, 
Where,  released  from  toil  and  pain, 
Brothers,  we  shall  meet  again. 


3.    THE  LEVEL  AND  THE  SQUARE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

We  meet  upon  the  Level  and  we  part  upon  the  Square^ 
What  words  of  precious  meaning  those  words  Masonic  are  I 
Come,  let  us  contemplate  them,  they  are  worthy  of  a  thought, 
With  the  highest,  and  the  lowest,  and  the  rarest  they  are  fraught. 

We  meet  upon  the  Level^  though  from  every  station  come ; 
The  monarch  from  his  palace,  and  the  poor  man  from  his  home  ; 
For  the  one  must  leave  his  diadem  outside  the  Mason's  door, 
And  the  other  finds  his  true  respect  upon  the  checkered  floor. 

We  part  upon  the  Square^  for  the  world  must  have  its  due; 
We  mingle  with  the  multitude,  a  cold,  unfriendly  crew, 
But  the  influence  of  our  gatherings  in  memory  is  green. 
And  we  long  upon  the  Level  to  renew  the  happy  scene. 

0  *  «  o  i&  « 

There's  a  world  where  all  are  equal — we  are  hurrying  toward  it  fast; 
We  shall  meet  upon  the  Level  there,  when  the  gates  of  death  are  past ; 
We  shall  sta,nd  before  the  Orient,  and  our  Master  will  be  there 
To  try  the  blocks  we  offer  by  his  own  unerring  Square. 

We  shall  meet  upon  the  Level  there,  but  never  thence  depart; 
There  's  a  3Iansion — 'tis  all  ready  for  each  trusting,  faithful  heart- 
There  's  a  3Iansion  and  a  welcome  and  a  multitude  is  there 
Who  have  met  upon  the  Level,  and  been  tried  upon  the  Square. 

Let  us  meet  upon  the  Level  therij  while  laboring  patient  here ; 
Let  us  meet  and  let  us  labor,  tho'  the  labor  be  severe; 
Already  in  the  Western  Sky  the  signs  bid  us  prepare 
To  gather  up  our  Working  tools  and  part  upon  the  Square  I 

Hands  round  ye  faithful  Masons,  form  the  bright,  fraternal  chain, 
We  part  upon  the  Sqxiare  below,  to  meet  in  heaven  again. 
Oh  what  words  of  precious  meaning  those  words  Masonic  are, 
We  meet  upon  the  Level  and  we  part  upon  the  Square! 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASrOXS. 


ADIEU!  A  HEART-WARM. 

BY  ROBERT  BURNS. 

Adieu !  a  heart-warm,  fond  adieu, 

Dear  brothers  of  the  mystic  tie  ! 
Ye  favored,  ye  enlightened  few, 

Companions  of  my  social  joy  I 
Tho'  I  to  foreign  lands  must  hie, 

Pursuing  fortune's  sliddry  ba', 
With  melting  heart,  and  brimful  eye, 

I'll  mind  you  still,  tho'  farawa'. 

Oft  have  I  met  your  social  band, 

And  spent  the  cheerful  festive  night; 
Oft  honored  with  supreme  command, 

Presided  o'er  the  sons  of  light: 
And  by  that  hieroglyphic  bright, 

Which  none  but  craftsmen  ever  saw ! 
Strong  mem'ry  on  my  heart  shall  write 

Those  happy  scenes  when  far  awa'. 

May  freedom,  harmony  and  love, 

Unite  you  in  the  grand  design, 
Beneath  th'  Omniscient  E^^e  above. 

The  glorious  Architect  divine  ! 
That  you  may  keep  th'  unerring  line, 

Still  rising  b}^  the  plummet's  law, 
Till  order  bright  completely  shine, 

Shall  be  my  pray'r  when  far  awa'. 

And  YOU,  farevrell !  whose  merits  claim 

Justly,  that  highest  badge  to  wear! 
Heav'n  bless  your  honor' d,  noble  name. 

To  Masonry  and  Scotia  dear  I 
A  last  request  permit  me  here. 

When  yearly  ye  assemble  a', 
One  round,  I  ask  it  with  a  tear. 

To  him,  the  bard  that's  far  awa'. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


5.    AULD  LANa  SYNE. 

BY  ROBERT  BURNS. 

Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot, 

And  never  brought  to  min'  ? 
Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot, 

And  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne  ? 
For  Auld  Lang  Syne,  my  dear, 

For  Auld  Lang  Syne ; 
We'll  take  a  cup  of  kindness  yet, 

For  Auld  Lang  Syne. 

An'  here  ^s  a  hand,  my  trusty  fier. 

An'  gie's  a  hand  of  thine; 
An'  we'll  toom  the  stowp  to  friendship's  growth, 

And  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 
For  Auld  Lang  Syne,  etc. 

An'  surely  ye' 11  be  your  pint  stowp, 

An'  surely  I'll  be  mine; 
An'  we'll  take  a  right  good  willywaught, 

For  Auld  Lang  Syne. 

For  Auld  Lang  Syne,  etc. 


SECTION  SIXTH. 


FUNERAL  RITES. 


WREATHE  THE  MOUENING  BADGE  AROUND. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — FleyeVs  Hymn.^^ 

Wreathe  the  mourning  badge  around — 
Brothers  hark  I  a  funeral  sound  ! 
Where  the  parted  had  his  home, 
Meet  and  bear  him  to  the  tomb. 

While  they  journey,  weeping,  slow 
Silent,  thoughtful  let  us  go ; 
Silent — ^life  to  him  is  sealed : 
Thoughtful — death  to  him's  revealed. 

How  his  life  path  has  been  trod, 
Brothers,  leave  we  unto  God ! 
Friendship's  mantle,  love  and  faith, 
Lend  sweet  fragrance  e'en  to  death. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Here  amidst  the  things  that  sleep, 
Let  him  rest — his  grave  is  deep ; 
Death  has  triumphed ;  loving  hands 
Can  not  raise  him  from  his  bands. 

But  the  emblems  that  we  shower, 
Tell  us  there's  a  mightier  power, — 
O'er  the  strength  of  death  and  hell, 
Judah's  Lion  shall  prevail. 

Dust  to  dust,  the  dark  decree — 
Soul  to  God,  the  soul  is  free : 
Leave  him  with  the  lowly  lain — 
Brothers,  we  shall  meet  again. 

3.   PEECIOUS  IN  THE  SIGHT. 

BT  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — "  Mozartr 

Precious  in  the  sight  of  heaven 

Is  the  place  where  Christians  die ; 
Souls  with  all  their  sins  forgiven. 

To  the  courts  of  glory  fly. 
Every  sorrow,  every  burden, 

Every  cross  they  lay  it  down  ; 
Jesus  gives  them  richest  guerdon 

In  his  own  immortal  crown. 

Here,  above  our  Brother  weeping, 

Through  our  tears  we  seize  this  hope — 
He  in  Jesus  sweetly  sleeping. 

Shall  awake  in  glory  up ! 
He  has  borne  his  cross  in  sorrow, 

Weary  pilgrim,  all  forlorn, 
When  the  sun  shines  bright  to-morrow, 

'Twill  reveal  his  sparkling  crown. 

Knights  of  Christ,  your  ranks  are  broken! 

Close  your  front!  the  foe  is  nigh  ! 
Shield  to  Shield!  behold  the  token 

As  he  saw  it  in  the  sky  ! 
By  that  Sign  so  bright,  so  glorious, 

Ye  shall  conquer  if  ye  strive. 
And  like  him,  though  dead,  victorious. 

In  the  courts  of  Jesus  live. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


3.    UNVAIL  THY  BOSOM. 

Air — See  Masonic  Musical  3Ianual,  p.  825. 

Unvail  thj  bosom,  faithful  tomb ; 

Take  this  new  treasure  to  thy  trust, 
And  give  these  sacred  relics  room 

To  slumber  in  the  silent  dust. 

Nor  pain,  nor  grief,  nor  anxious  fear, 
Invade  thy  bounds ;  no  mortal  woes 

Can  reach  the  silent  sleepers  here, 
While  angels  watch  their  soft  repose. 

Here,  Brother,  sleep,  beneath  the  stone 
Which  tells  a  mortal  here  is  laid. 

Best,  here,  'till  God  shall  from  his  throne. 
The  darkness  break,  and  pierce  the  shadfj. 

Break  from  his  throne,  illustrious  morn  ! 

Attend,  0  earth  !  God's  sov'reign  word; 
Restore  thy  trust — a  glorious  form — 

He  must  ascend  to  meet  his  Lord. 


4.    BEAR  HIM  HOME. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Bear  him  home,  his  bed  is  made 
In  the  stillness,  in  the  shade  • 
Day  has  parted,  night  has  come, 
Bear  the  Brother  to  his  home. 

Bear  him  home. 

Bear  him  home,  no  more  to  roam — 
Bear  the  tired  pilgrim  home  ; 
Forward  !  all  his  toils  are  o'er. 
Home,  where  journeying  is  no  more. 

Bear  him  home. 

Lay  him  down — his  bed  is  here — 
See,  the  dead  are  resting  near; 
Brothers  they  their  Brothers  own, 
Lay  the  wanderer  gentl}^  down. 

Lay  him  down. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Lay  him  down  ;  let  nature  spread 
Starry  curtains  o'er  the  dead; 
Lay  him  down ;  let  angel  eyes 
View  him  kindly  from  the  skies. 

Lay  him  down. 

Ah,  not  yet  for  us,  the  bed 
Where  the  faithful  pilgrim's  laid; 
Pilgrims  weep !  again  to  go 
Through  life's  weariness  and  wo. 

Ah,  not  yet ! 

Soon  'twill  come,  if  faithful  here, 
Soon  the  end  of  all  our  care ; 
Strangers  here,  we  seek  a  home. 
Friends  and  Saviour,  in  the  tomb. 

Soon  'tY/ill  come  I 

Let  us  go,  and  on  our  way, 
Faithful  journey,  faithful  pray; 
Through  the  sunshine,  through  the  snow, 
Boldly,  Brother  pilgrims  go  ! 

Let  us  go ! 


SECTION  SEVENTH. 


FESTIVAL. 


1.  "man  twelve." 

BY  BUG.  B.  B.  FRENCH. 

List  to  the  strokes  of  the  bell — 
High  twelve  I 
Sweet  on  the  air  they  swell, 
To  those  who  have  labored  well. 
And  the  Warden's  voice  is  heard — 
From  the  South  comes  the  cheering  word, 
"In  quarries  no  longer  delve." 

Again,  'tis  the  Warden's  call, 

"  High  twelve  I 
*'Lay  aside  gavel,  hammer  and  maul, 
"  Refreshment  for  Craftsmen  all, 
"  By  the  generous  Master  is  given 
"  To  those  Avho  have  cheerily  striven 

"  Like  men  in  the  quarries  to  delve." 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


There  is  to  each  mortal's  life 

High  twelve ! 
In  the  midst  of  his  worldly  strife — 
With  Earth's  groveling  luxuries  rife, 
The  voice  of  the  Warden  comes, 
Like  the  roll  of  a  thousand  drums, 

"  In  Earth's  quarries  no  longer  delve! 

List  to  the  tones  of  the  bell, 

^'High  twelve!" 
As  if  from  on  high  they  fell, 
Their  silvery  echoes  swell. 
And  again  the  voice  we  hear, 
As  if  from  an  upper  sphere, 

"Hence  for  heavenly  treasures  delve." 

There  shall  ring  in  the  world  of  bliss 

High  twelve  1 
When  relieved  from  our  work  in  this, 
If  we've  lived  not  our  lives  amiss ; 
The  Master  shall  call  us,  there 
Our  immortal  crown  to  wear. 

No  more  in  Earth's  quarries  to  delve. 


3.   HIGH  XII. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

There's  columns  II  and  pillars  V, 

Support  and  grace  our  Halls  of  truth  ; 
But  none  such  sparkling  pleasure  give 
As  the  column  that  adorns  the  S. 

"  High  xii;  "  the  J.  W.  calls, 

His  column  grants  the  festive  hour. 
And  through  our  antiquated  halls 
Rich  streams  of  social  gladness  pour. 

'Tis  then  all  care  and  toil  forgot, 
The  bond  indissoluble  seems; 
'Tis  then  the  world's  a  happy  spot. 

And  hope  unmixed  with  sadness  gleams. 

High  xii  ;  I've  shared  the  festive  hour 

With  those  who  realize  the  bliss; 
And  felt  that  life  contains  no  more 
Than  sparkles  in  the  joys  of  this. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


What  memories  hover  round  the  time  I 

What  forms  rise  up  to  call  it  blest! 
Departed  friends,  why  should  it  dim 
Our  joys  to  know  that  they're  at  rest ! 

High  xii;  how  they  rejoiced  to  hear! 

Quickly  each  implement  laid  down, 
Glad  to  exchange  for  toil,  and  care. 
And  heavy  cross^  a  heavenly  crown. 

Then  comrades  all  by  3X3, 

Linked  in  the  golden  chain  of  Truth, 
A  hearty  welcome  pledge  with  me 
To  the  column  that  adorns  the  S. 

High  xii  ;  and  never  be  the  hour 

Less  free,  less  brotherly  than  now  I 
High  xii  ;  a  rich  libation  pour 
To  joj^s  that  none  but  Masons  know  ! 


leaning  towaed  each  othee. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

The  jolts  of  life  are  many 

As  we  dash  along  the  track; 
The  way  is  rough  and  rugged 
And  our  bones  they  sorely  rack : 
We're  tossed  about, 
We're  in  and  out, 

We  make  a  mighty  pother, 
Far  less  would  be 
Our  pains,  if  we 

Would  lean  toward  each  other  / 

Behold  that  loving  couple 
Just  mated  for  their  life, 
What  care  they  for  the  joltings. 
That  happy  man  and  wife ! 
The  cars  may  jump, 
Their  heads  may  bump. 

And  jostle  one  another. 
They  only  smile. 
And  try  the  while, 

To  lean  toward  each  other  I 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 

Wo  to  the  luckless  pilgrim 
Who  journeys  all  alone  ; 
Well  said  the  Wise  King  Solomon, 
"  Two  better  is  than  one !  " 

For  when  the  ground's 
Most  rugged  found, 

And  great's  the  pain  and  pother, 
Who  can  not  break 
The  sorest  shake, 

By  leaning  toward  another  ! 

There's  not  one  in  10,000 

Of  all  the  cares  we  mourn, 
But  what,  if  'twas  divided 
Might  easily  be  borne  1 
If  we'd  but  learn 
When  fortunes  turn 

To  share  them  with  a  Brother, 
We'd  prove  how  good's 
Our  brotherhood, 

By  leaning  toward  each  other. 

Then  Masons  take  my  counsel, 

The  landmarks  teach  you  so — 
Share  all  your  joltings  fairly 
As  down  the  track  you  go  ! 
Yes,  give  and  take 
Of  every  shake, 

With  all  the  pain  and  pother, 
And  thus  you'll  prove 
Your  Mason's  love 

By  leaning  toward  each  other  ! 


4.    TO  MASONS  EYEKY  WHEKE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — ^^Auld  Lang  Syne^ 

In  gladsome  mood  again  we're  met — 

How  swiftly  passed  the  year! 
Begin  the  feast,  and  Brothers,  drink 
To  Masons  every  where  ! 

A  Mason's  love  is  unrestrained. 
Each  other's  woes  we  share; 
Then  lift  the  cup,  and  Brothers,,  drink 
To  Masons  every  where  ! 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


What  would  our  Mystic  Tie  ba  worth — 

How  little  should  we  care  ' 
For  Masonry,  did  not  its  links 
Encircle  every  where  ! 

With  Mason's  love  so  unrestrained, 

Each  other's  woes  to  share, 
Well  may  we  fill  the  cup,  and  drinl^ 

To  MaSONS  EVERY  WHERE  ! 

Though  some  we  loved  have  fallen  on 

The  weary  path  of  care  ; 
What  then  ?  In  Heaven  they're  yet  our  own 
To  Masons  every  where  I 

For  Mason's  love,  so  unrestrained, 

Eternity  may  dare! 
Then,  Brothers,  fill  and  fondly  drink 
To  Masons  every  where. 

And  so,  when  death  shall  claim  us  too. 

And  other  forms  be  here, 
May  we  in  memory's  heart  be  held 
By  Masons  every  where. 

For  Mason's  love  is  unrestrained, 
Nor  death  the  chain  may  tear ; 
O'erflow  the  cup,  and  Brothers,  drink. 
To  Masons  every  where. 


SECTION  EIGHTH. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


1.    A  HEBREW  CHANT. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Lonely  is  Sion.  cheerless  and  still, 
Shekinah  has  left  thee,  thou  desolate  hill ; 
Winds  sweep  around  thee,  familiar  their  tone, 
But  trumpet,  timbrel,  song,  are  gone. 

Joyous  was  Sion  on  that  glorious  day, 
When  Israel  beheld  all  thy  temple's  display; 
Heaven  sent  a  token  approvingly  down, 
But  temple,  altar,  cloud,  are  gone. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Foemen  of  Sion  uplifted  tlieir  spear, 
The  brand  to  thy  temple,  the  chain  to  each  frere 
Pilgrims  and  strangers,  thy  children  yet  mourn- 
But  foemen,  fetter,  brand,  are  gone. 

Spirit  of  Sion,  Oh,  hasten  the  day 
When  Israel  shall  gather  in  matchless  array 
Lord,  build  thine  altars — thy  people  return; 
For  temple,  altar,  cloud,  are  gone. 


DUTIES  OF  THE  CRAFT. 

BY  ROB  MORHIS. 

Come,  and  let  us  seek  the  straying — • 

Lead  him  to  the  Shepherd  back  ; 
Come,  the  traveler's  feet  betraying, 
Guide  him  from  the  dangerous  track. 
Come,  a  solemn  voice  reminds  us — 
Come,  a  mystic  fetter  binds  us ; 
Masons,  here  your  duties  lie — 
Hark !  the  poor  and  needy  cry 

Come  and  help  the  worthy  poor — 
Break  to  him  the  needed  bread ; 
Longer  he  can  not  endure — 

Come,  ere  famine  mark  him  dead. 
Bounties  rich  to  us  supplying, 
To  the  poor  are  oft  denying ; 
Masons,  here  your  duties  lie — 
Hark !  the  poor  and  needy  cry. 

Come  where  sorrow  has  its  dwelling — 

Comfort  bring  to  souls  distressed  ; 
To  the  friendless  mourner  telling 
Of  the  Rock  that  offers  rest. 

Y/hat  would  life  be  but  for  heaven? 
Come,  to  us  this  message  given ; 
Masons,  here  your  duties  lie — 
Hark  !  the  poor  and  needy  cry. 

Band  of  brothers,  every  nation 

Hails  your  bright  and  orient  light; 
Fervent,  zealous,  free — your  station 
Calls  for  deeds  of  noblest  might. 

Seek — the  world  is  full  of  sorrow ; 
Act — your  life  will  end  to-morrow ; 
Masons,  here  your  duties  lie — 
Hark !  the  poor  and  needy  cry. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIOJ^^S. 


3.  BROTHERLY  LOVE. 

BY  ROB  MORBIS. 

By  one  God  created,  by  one  Saviour  saved, 
By  one  Spirit  lighted,  by  one  mark  engraved, 
We're  taught  in  the  wisdom  our  spirits  approve, 
To  cherish  the  spirit  of  Brotherly  Love. 

Love,  love,  Brotherly  Love ; 

This  world  has  no  spirit  like  Brotherly  Love. 

In  the  land  of  the  stranger  we  Masons  abide, 

In  forest,  in  quarry,  on  Lebanon's  side; 

Yon  Temple  we're  building — its  plan's  from  above— 

And  we  labor  supported  by  Brotherly  Love. 

Though  the  service  be  hard,  and  the  wages  be  scant, 
If  the  Master  accept  it  our  hearts  are  content,* 
The  prize  that  we  toil  for,  we'll  have  it  above, 
When  the  TempWs  completed  in  Brotherly  Love. 

Yes,  yes — though  the  week  be  so  long,  it  will  end ; 
Though  the  Temple  be  lofty,  the  Keystone  will  stand, 
And  the  Sabbath,  blest  day,  every  thought  will  remove, 
Save  the  mem'ry  fraternal  of  Brotherly  Love. 

By  one  God  created — come,  brothers^  His  day  ; 
By  one  Spirit  lighted,  come,  brothers^  away  ! 
With  Beauty  and  Wisdom  and  Strength  to  approve, 
Let's  toil  while  there's  labor  in  Brotherly  Love. 

Love,  love.  Brotherly  Love ; 

This  world  has  no  spirit  like  Brotherly  Love. 


4.  THE  SLIPPER. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Take  this  pledge — it  is  a  token 
Of  that  truth  which  ne'er  was  broken  ; 
Truth  which  binds  the  mystic  tie, 
Under  the  xlllseeing  eye. 

Take  this  pledge — each  ancient  brother, 
By  this  type  bound  every  other. 
Firm,  securely — death  alone 
Kent  the  bonds  that  made  them  one. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Take  this  pledge — no  pledge  so  holy, 
Though  the  symbol  seem  but  lowly ; 
'Tis  Divine— it  tells  of  One, 
Of  the  raindrops  and  the  sun. 

Take  this  pledge — the  token  sealeth 
All  the  Judgment  Day  revealeth: 
Honor,  Truth,  Fraternal  Grace, 
Brother,  in  thy  hands  I  place. 


THE  SYMBOLS  ON  THE  TABLET. 

BY  HOB  MORRIS. 

A  Brother  bound  for  distant  lands, 

In  sickness  fell  alone,  alone. 
And  stranger  care,  from  stranger  hands. 

Did  the  last  rites  of  nature  own 
But  ere  the  trembling  spirit  passed. 
He  on  a  tablet  faintly  traced 

Some  mystic  lines,  a  spiral  thread, 
A  square,  an  emblem  of  the  sun, 

A  checkered  band  that  none  could  read — 
And  then  his  work  and  life  were  done : 

And  stranger  care,  from  stranger  hands. 

Gave  him  kind  burial  in  the  sands. 

Full  many  a  year  swept  by,  swept  by. 
And  the  poor  stranger  was  forgot. 

While  on  an  olive  column  nigh, 

That  Tablet  marked  his  burial  spot ; 

And  many  gazed  at  square  and  thread. 

And  many  guessed,  but  none  could  read. 

But  then  a  sage  Disciple  came, 

Of  one  whose  wisdom  filled  the  land. 

Himself  right  worthy  of  the  name, 

"  The  thoughtful  head  and  ready  hand  ;  " 

He  looked  upon  the  mystic  lines, 
And  read  the  tablet's  full  designs. 

It  spoke  of  one  long  passed  before. 

In  quest  of  truth,  like  him  sincere, — 

Of  one  gone  onward,  never  more 
To  delve  in  mines  deep  hidden  here ; 

And  solemn  was  the  lesson  traced — 

"Come,  pilgrim,  'tis  your  fate  at  last." 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Awe-struck,  yet  wiser  now,  he  strayed 
In  solemn  silence  from  the  spot; 

Repaid  the  debt  his  Brother  made. 
And  eastward  journeyed  on  his  lot; 

Yet  never  on  life's  shifting  wave 

Lost  he  the  lesson  of  that  grave. 

How  weighty  is  the  charge  we  give, 
Brethren  in  this  short  history  read, 

To  bless  the  living  while  we  live, 
And  leave  some  token  when  we! re  dead. 

On  life's  broad  tablet  let  us  trace 
Emblems  to  mark  our  burial  place. 


6.  THE  ALL-SEEINa  EYE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

There  is  an  Eye  through  blackest  night, 

A  vigil  ever  keeps, 
A  vision  of  unerring  light, 
O'er  lowly  vale  or  giddy  hight, 
The  Eye  that  never  sleeps. 

Midst  poverty  and  sickness  lain, 

The  outcast  lowly  weeps  ; 
What  marks  the  face,  convulsed  with  pain  ? 
What  marks  the  softened  look  again? 

The  Eye  that  never  sleeps. 

Above,  above  the  highest  sun, 

Below  profoundest  deeps — 
Where  dewy  day  his  course  begun, 
Where  scarlet  marks  his  labors  done, 

The  Eye  that  never  sleeps. 

No  limit  bounds  th'  eternal  sight, 

No  misty  cloud  o'ersweeps ; 
The  depths  of  hell  give  up  their  light, 
Eternity  itself  is  bright — 

The  Eye  that  never  sleeps. 

Then  rest  we  calm,  though  round  our  head 

The  life-storm  fiercely  sweeps ; 
What  fear  is  in  the  blast?  what  dread 
In  mightier  death?  an  eye's  o'erhead — 
The  Eye  that  never  sleeps. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


7     LIGHT  FROM  THE  EAST. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Light  from  the  East,  'tis  gilded  with  hope, 
Star  of  our  faith,  thy  glory  is  up ! 
Darkness  apace  and  watchfulness  flee  ; 
Earth  lend  thy  joys  to  nature  and  me. 

Lo  we  have  seen  uplifted  on  high, 
Star  in  the  East,  thy  rays  from  the  sky ; 
Lo  we  have  heard — what  joy  to  our  earl 
Come,  ye  redeemed,  and  welcome  him  here. 

Light  to  the  blind,  they've  wandered  too  long; 
Feet  to  the  lame,  the  weak  are  made  strong; 
Hope  to  the  joyless,  freely  'tis  given; 
Life  to  the  dead,  and  music  to  Heaven. 

Praise  to  the  Lord — keep  silence  no  more; 
Ransomed,  rejoice  from  mountain  to  shore, 
Streams  in  the  desert,  sing  as  ye  stray, 
Sorrow  and  sadness  vanish  away. 


THE  EMBLEMS  OF  THE  CEAFT. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Who  wears  the  square  upon  his  breast, 
Does  in  the  eye  of  God  attest, 

And  in  the  face  of  man, 
That  all  his  actions  do  compare 
With  the  Divine,  th'  unerring  square — 
That  squares  great  virtue's  plan : 
That  he  erects  his  Edifice 
By  this  design  and  tJiis  and  this! 

Who  wears  the  Level  says  that  pride 
Does  not  within  his  soul  abide, 

Nor  foolish  vanity ; 
That  man  has  but  a  common  doom. 
And  from  the  cradle  to  the  tomb 

A  common  destiny : 
That  he  erects  his  Edifice 
By  this  design^  and  this  and  this  1 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


25 


"Who  wears  the  G  ;  ah,  type  divine  1 
Abhors  the  atmosphere  of  sin, 

And  trusts  in  God  alone  j 
His  Father,  Maker,  Friend,  he  knows — 
He  vows,  and  pays  to  God  his  vows, 

As  by  th'  Eternal  throne  : 
And  he  erects  his  Edifice 
By  this  design^  and  this  and  this  / 

Who  wears  the  Plumb,  behold  how  true 
His  words,  his  walk !  and  could  we  view 

The  chambers  of  his  soul, 
Each  thought  enshrined,  so  pure,  so  good. 
By  the  stern  line  of  rectitude, 

Points  truly  to  the  goal : 
And  he  erects  his  Edifice 
By  this  design^  and  this  and  this! 

Thus  life  and  beauty  come  to  view 
In  each  design  our  fathers  drew, 

So  glorious,  so  sublime ; 
Each  breathes  an  odor  from  the  bloom 
Of  gardens  bright  beyond  the  tomb. 

Beyond  the  flight  of  time : 
And  bids  us  build  on  this  and  this^ 
The  walls  of  God's  own  Edifice ! 


9.    THE  WIDOW  AND  THE  FATHERLESS. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

As  on  my  road  delaying, 

The  stream's  cool  water  by, 
My  thoughts  in  fancy  straying, 
I  heard  a  plaintive  cry — 

There  may  be  hope  in  heaven, 

For  us  no  hope  is  here; 
Oh  why  was  joy  thus  given. 
So  soon  to  disappear? 

Around  a  grave  was  weeping 
A  widowed,  orphan  band ; 
Beneath  their  feet  was  sleeping 
The  husband,  father,  friend; 

And  as  their  sorrows  swelling, 

Broke  forth  midst  sigh  and  tear, 
Again  these  words  were  telling — 
Ala&^  no  hope  is  here. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Tlie  stream's  cool  waters  fiowing, 

No  longer  sung  to  me; 
The  soft  Spring  sunbeams  glowing, 
Were  cheerless  all  to  see; 

For  still  that  widowed  mother, 
And  still  those  orphans  dear, 
Bewailed  my  buried  Brother — 
Alas,  no  hope  is  here, 

Mj  Brother !  yes,  forsaken 

These  loved  ones  round  thee  mourn, 
Too  soon  from  friendship  taken — 
Dear  Brother,  thou  art  gone: 

Gone  from  a  cold  w^orld's  sighing, 

From  sorrow  and  from  fear, 
But  left  these  mourners  crying — 
Alas  no  hope  is  here. 

Those  tears,  my  heart,  are  holy : 
Those  sighs  by  anguish  driven, 
This  mourning  group  so  lowly, 
Are  messengers  of  heaven. 

And  so  will  I  receive  them. 

As  God  shall  give  me  cheer; 
Protect  them  and  relieve  them, 
And  teach  them  hoj/e  is  here. 


10.  THE  PEEFECT  ASHLERS. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

The  sunbeams  from  the  eastern  sky. 
Flash  from  yon  blocks  exalted  high, 
And  on  their  polished  fronts  proclaim 
The  Eramer  and  the  Builder  s  fame. 

Glowing  beneath  the  fervid  noon, 
Yon  marble  dares  the  southern  sun; 
Yet  tells  that  wall  of  fervid  flame, 
The  Eramer  and  the  Builder's  fame. 

The  chastened  sun  adown  the  Yfest, 
Speaks  the  same  voice  and  sinks  to  rest* 
I^o  sad  defect,  no  flaw  to  shame  . 
The  Framer  and  the  Builder's  fame. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Beneath  the  dewy  night,  the  sky 
Lights  up  ten  thousand  himps  on  high; 
Ten  thousand  Limps  unite  to  name 
The  Framer  and  the  Builder's  fame. 

Perfect  in  line,  exact  in  square, 
The  Ashlers  of  the  Craftsmen  are  ; 
They  will  to  coming  time  proclaim 
The  Framer, and  the  Builder's  fame. 


THE  WISE  CHOICE  OF  SOLOMON. 
I.  Kings^  iii :  5. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Music — '•'•The  Banks  of  BannaP 

When  in  the  dreams  of  night  he  lay, 

Fancy-led  through  earth  and  air, 
Whispered  from  the  heavenly  way, 

The  voice  of  promise  met  his  ear; 
Fancy  ceased  his  pulse  to  thrill — 

Gathered  home  each  earnest  thought — 
And  his  very  heart  was  still, 

Awhile  the  gracious  words  he  caught. 

*'Ask  me  whatsoe'er  thou  wilt, 

Fame  or  wealth,  or  royal  povfer; 
Ask  me,  ask  me,  and  thou  shalt 

Such  favors  have  as  none  before  1  " 
Silence  through  the  midnight  air — 

Silence  in  the  thoughtful  breast — 
What  of  all  that's  bright  and  fair, 

Appeared  to  youth  and  hope  the  best  ? 

'Twas  no  feeble  tongue  replied, 

While  in  awe  his  pulses  stood: 
"Wealth  and  riches  be  denied, 

But  give  me  Wisdom,  voice  of  God! 
Give  me  wisdom  in  the  sight 

Of  the  people  thou  dost  knoAv; 
Give  me  of  thyself  the  light. 

And  all  the  rest  I  can  forego.' '  ... 


28 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Thus,  0  Lord,  in  visions  fair, 

When  we  hear  thy  promise-voice, 
Thus  like  him  will  we  declare, 

That  Wisdom  is  our  dearest  choice. 
Light  of  heaven,  ah  priceless  boon  I 

Guiding  o'er  the  troubled  waj; 
What  is  all  an  earthly  sun, 

To  his  celestial,  chosen  ray  ? 

Wisdom  hath  her  dwelling  reared,-^** 

Lo,  the  mystic  pillars  seven ! 
Wisdom  for  her  guests  hath  cared, 

And  meat  and  wine  and  bread  hatli  given. 
Turn  we  not  while  round  us  cry 

Tongues  that  speak  her  mystic  word; 
They  that  scorn  her  voice  shall  die, 

But  whoso  hear  are  friends  of  God. 


12.  CIRCUMAMBULATION. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

I  saw  him  first  one  snowy  winter  night — 
'But  summer's  fire  glowed  in  his  youthful  breast — 

A  humble  seeker  for  Masonic  light, 
A  pilgrim  longing  for  Masonic  rest ; 

From  the  bright  Orient  southward  to  the  Wesfc 
Darkly  he  journeyed,  while  our  eyes  inquired 

If  form  and  heart  and  garb  fulfilled  our  test  ? 
From  the  ordeal  he  came,  as  one  inspired, 
And  glad  amongst  us  stood,  enlightened  and  attired. 

Once  more  I  saw  him — but  his  eyes  were  hid — 
Hoodwinked  by  death;  as  with  an  iron  hand. 

His  limbs  were  fettered;  'neath  the  coffin  lid 
The  strong  man  lay  extended,  and  his  hand. 

Whose  grip  had  thrilled  me,  ah !  how  dead  it  spanned 
His  pulseless  breast :    Yet  round  our  Brother's  head 

Thrice  we  encircled,  but  with  grief  unmanned. 
And  with  respectful  tenderness  we  spread 
Upon  his  breast,  green  twigs,  fit  presents  for  the  dead. 

For  he  had  journeyed  further,  learned  a  lore 
Profounder,  drank  in  purer  light  than  we; 

And  of  desired  treasure  gathered  more 
Than  dwells  in  all  the  mines  of  Masonry. 


*  Proverbs  ix:  1-9. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


29 


What  unto  us  is  veiled  in  mystery- 
Was  real  to  him,  and  by  his  Master's  side, 

Knowing  as  he  was  known,  the  dead  was  free  I 
Therefore  we  paid  our  homage  to  the  dead, 
And  "  We  shall  meet  again,  our  Brother  dear,"  we  said. 

And  we  shall  meet  again,  not  as  in  quest 

Of  light  Masonic,  nor  as  in  that  time 
When  last  I  saw  thee  pallid  in  thy  rest ; 

But  in  a  Lodge  transcendently  sublime  f 
Death  there  shall  ring  no  funeral  chime — 

No  weeping  band  encompassing  its  dead — 
But  light  and  life  inspire  an  endless  hymn. 

Ah,  happy  we  whose  very  graves  may  shed 

Effulgent  hope  and  joy  as  round  their  brinks  we  tread  I 


13.    THE  DESERTED  LODGE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

These  walls  are  tottering  to  decay ; 

There's  dampness  on  the  stair; 
But  well  I  mind  me  of  the  day 

When  two  score  men  met  here; 
When  two  score  Brothers  met  at  night, 

The  full  round  moon  above, 
To  weave  the  mystic  chain  of  light, 

With  holy  links  of  love. 

But  now  the  lightest  of  the  train, 

In  deep,  deep  grave  is  bowed; 
The  chain  is  broke,  the  holy  chain—- 

The  Master's  with  his  God  I 
The  wailing  notes  were  heard  one  day. 

Where  cheerful  songs  were  best. 
And  two  score  Brothers  bore  away 

The  Master  to  his  rest. 

The  South — that  cheerful  voice  is  still, 

That  spoke  the  joys  of  noon; 
The  West— that  told  the  Master's  will. 

Has  set,  as  sets  the  sun. 
The  sun  may  rise,  may  stand,  may  fall. 

But  these  will  stand  no  more, 
No  more  the  faithful  Craft  to  call. 

Or  scan  their  labors  o'er. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


I'll  weep  the  passing  of  the  train 

The  Saviour  wept  his  love; 
I'll  weep,  no  power  shall  restrain 

The  tears  that  memories  move. 
Where  two  score  Brothers  met  at  night, 

There's  solitude  and  gloom  ; 
Let  grief  its  sacred  train  invite 

To  this  old  haunted  room. 

14.   NUNC  DIMITTIS. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

^'Now  dismiss  me,  while  I  linger, 

For  one  fond,  one  dear  word  more,  ^ 
Have  I  done  my  labor  fairly  ? 

Is  there  aught  against  my  score  ? 
Is  there  one  in  all  your  circle, 

Wrongei  by  deed,  or  word,  or  blow? 
Silence  speaks  my  full  acquittance — 

Nunc  dimitlis^  let  me  go. 

"  Let  me  go,  I  crave  my  wages ; — 

Long  I've  waited,  long  I've  toiled; 
Never  once  through  work  days  idle — 

Never  once  my  apron  soiled — 
In  the  chamber — where  the  Master 

Waits  with  smiling  to  bestow 
Corn,  and  wine,  and  oil  abundant, 

Nunc  dimittis,  let  me  go. 

Let  me  go,  but  you  must  tarry, 

Till  the  Sixth  day's  close  has  come, 
Heat  and  burden  patient  bear  ye 

While  you're  absent  from  your  home  ; 
But  a  little,  and  the  summons 

Waits  alike  for  each  of  you; — 
Mine  is  sounding,  spirits  wait  me, 

Nunc  dimitiis,  let  me  go. 

''Oh,  the  Sabbath-day  in  Heaven  J 

Oh,  the  joys  reserved  for  them, 
Faithful  Builders  of  the  Temple, 

Type  of  blest  Jerusalem  ! 
Oh,  the  raptures  of  our  meeting 

With  the  friends  'twas  bliss  to  know ! 
Strive  no  longer  to  detain  me — 

Nunc  dimitiis,  let  me  go." 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Iluslied  that  voice  its  fond  imploring: 

Faded  is  +;hat  ea<?er  eye ; 
Gone  the  soul  of  labor  wearied, 

To  repose  eternally  ; — 
Bui  the  memory  of  his  service 

Oft  shall  lighten  up  our  woe, 
Till  the  hour  we  too  petition, 

"  Nunc  dimittiSj  let  me  go  I  " 

15.    THE  BEOKEN  COLUMN. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

*Tis  done — the  dark  decree  is  said, 

That  called  our  friend  away ; 
Submissive  bow  the  sorrowing  head. 

And  bend  the  lowly  knee; 
We  will  not  ask  why  God  has  broke 

Our  Pillar  from  its  stone, 
But  humbly  yield  us  to  the  stroke. 

And  say  "His  will  be  done." 

At  last  the  weary  head  has  sought 

In  earth  its  long  repose; 
And  weeping  freres  have  hither  brought 

Their  chieftain  to  his  close. 
We  held  his  hand,  we  filled  his  heart, 

While  heart  and  hand  could  move. 
Nor  will  we  from  his  grave  depart 

But  with  the  rites  of  love. 

This  grave  shall  be  a  garner,  where 

We'll  heap  our  golden  corn; 
And  here,  in  heart,  we'll  oft  repair, 

To  think  of  him  that's  gone; 
To  speak  of  all  he  did  and  said, 

That's  wise,  and  good,  and  pure, 
And  covenant  o'er  the  hopeful  dead. 

In  vows  that  will  endure. 

Oh  Brother,  bright  and  loving  frere, 

Oh  spirit  free  and  pure, 
Breathe  us  one  gush  of  spirit  air. 

From  oif  the  Heavenly  shore. 
And  say,  when  these  hard  toils  are  done. 

And  the  Grand  Master  calls, 
Is  there  for  every  weary  one 

Place  in  the  Heavenly  halls ! 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


WHEEE  TYPES  AEE  ALL  FULFILLED. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Where  types  are  all  fulfilled — 

Where  mystic  shades  are  real — 
Where  aching  hands  and  hearts  are  stilled, 

And  death  has  set  his  seal — 
In  that  bright  land  called  Heaven^ 

Dear  friend,  we'll  meet  once  more; 
The  token  in  thy  parting  given, 

Points  to  a  Heavenly  shore. 


'Tis  this,  our  signs  have  taught, 

Our  symbols  old  and  true ; — 
'Tis  this  upon  our  work  is  wrought, 

Which  every  frere  can  view ; 
From  the  first  line  we  traced, 

On  the  foundation  walls, 
To  that  bright  stone^  the  last,  the  best. 

The  glory  of  our  halls. 

Oh,  what  a  land  of  joy. 

Hast  thou  beheld,  my  Friend  ! 
Oh,  what  ineffable  employ 

Thy  faithful  heart  has  gained ! 
Thy  Brother,  weary,  worn, 

Longs  for  the  same  bright  dome, 
Where  all  the  week's  hard  service  done, 

He'll  have  thy  welcome  home. 


17.    LOOKING  TO  THE  EAST, 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Yes,  in  yon  world  of  perfect  light. 
The  wearied  soul  at  last  may  rest. 

No  higher,  further,  wings  its  flight. 
Brought  to  the  glories  of  the  East 


There  is  the  long-sought  home  divine, 
Ah,  worthy  of  the  painful  quest ! 

When  evening  shades  of  life  decline, 
The  day  is  dawning  in  the  East. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Who  feels  this  truth  in  fervent  heart 
May  know  his  last  hours  are  his  best : 

How  joyful  from  the  West  to  part 
When  calls  the  Master  from  the  East. 

Hands,  hearts  and  hands  in  union  dear, — 

Jesus  has  sanctified  the  test : 
Life's  chain  is  only  broken  here 

To  join  forever  in  the  East, 

Mourners,  your  tears  with  gladness  blend  ! 

Joy,  Brothers,  joy,  our  faith's  confessed! 
The  grave  will  yield  our  parted  friend. 

When  we  with  him  ap'proach  the  East. 

18.   DIVIDING  THE  TESSERA. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — "  Sul  margine  d'un  RioJ^ 

Parting  on  the  sounding  shore 

Brothers  twain  are  sighing : 
Mingle  with  the  ocean's  roar, 

Words  of  love  undying; 
A  ring  of  gold  is  severed  then 

And  each  to  each  the  giver, 
His  faith  renews  in  mystic  sign 

And  binds  his  heart  forever. 

"  Broken  thus  the  token  be, 

"  While  o'er  earth  we  wander; 
"  One  to  thee  and  one  to  me, 

"  Rudely  torn  asunder ; 
''But  though  divided  we  are  one — 

"  This  scar,  the  bond  expresses, 
"When  all  our  painful  wandering's  done, 

"  Will  close  and  leave  no  traces  ! 

"  Warmly  in  thy  bosom  hide, 

"The  golden  voice.  Hove  thee! 
"  Keep  it  there  whate'er  betide, 

"  To  guard  thee  and  to  prove  thee  I 
"  And  should  the  token  e'er  be  lost, 

"  Or  chilled,  what  now  is  riven, 
"  I'll  know  that  death  has  sent  the  frost 

*'  And  look  for  thee  in  heaven !  " 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Parted  on  the  sounding  shore, 

Each  THE  TOKEN  keeping, 
Met  those  Brothers  never  more — 

In  death  they're  widely  sleeping. 
But  yet  love's  victory  was  won, — 

The  scar  that  bond  expresses, 
Their  long  and  painful  wandering  done, 

Has  closed  and  left  no  traces ! 

19.    ASK!  SEEK!!  KNOCK!!! 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Ask  and  ye  shall  receive ; 

Seek,  ye  shall  surely  find; 
Knock,  ye  shall  no  resistance  meet 

If  con.e  with  ready  mind, 
For  all  that  ask,  and  ask  aright, 
Are  welcome  to  our  Lodge  to-night. 


Lay  down  the  bow  and  spear: 
Resign  the  sword  and  shield: 

Forget  the  arts  of  warfare  here, 
The  arms  of  peace  to  wield, 

For  all  that  seek,  and  seek  aright, 

Are  welcome  to  our  Lodge  to-night. 

Bring  hither  thoughts  of  peace; 

Bring  hither  words  of  love: 
Diffuse  the  pure  and  holy  joy, 

That  Cometh  from  above, 
For  all  that  knock,  and  knock  aright, 
Are  welcome  to  our  Lodge  to-night. 


Ask  help  of  Him  that's  high  : 
Seek  grace  of  Him  that's  true : 

Knock  patiently,  the  hand  is  nigh, 
Will  open  unto  you. 

For  all  that  Ask,  Seek,  Knock  aright^ 

Are  welcome  to  our  Lodge  to-night. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


SO.    THE  ALL-SEEING  EYE. 

BY  B.  B.  FRENCH. 

Air — Mary's  Dream. 

A  signal  from  the  outer  gnte 

Has  passed  within  the  hall, 
The  Master,  from  his  orient  throne, 

Survej^s  the  brethren  all ; 
Each,  duly  clad,  is  in  his  place. 

Where, Truth  stands  ever  by — 
Falsehood  would  quail  beneath  the  frown 

Of  God's  All-seeing  eye ! 


The  Tyler  stands,  with  naked  blade, 

To  guard  the  sacred  door — 
None  but  true  men  should  ever  tread 

The  tesselated  floor. 
There  the  great  lesson — how  to  live — 

The  greater — how  to  die — 
Is  taught  beneath  that  symbol  grand, 

The  All-beholding  eye  I 


But  joy,  and  love,  and  sympathy 

Burn  bright  in  every  soul, 
'Tis  human  bliss  to  worship  God 

And  seek  heaven's  happy  goal; 
This  bliss  within  the  Lodge  is  found, 

Beneath  its  "  azure  skj^," 
AVhence,  ever  watchful,  from  above 

Looks  God's  All-seeing  eye! 


The  gavel  falls — the  Lodge  is  closed. 

Each  wends  his  several  way. 
But  the  great  lesson  he  has  learned 

Within  his  heart  shall  stay. 
And,  as  he  walks  his  worldly  walk, 

Whatever  work  he  ply. 
He  ne'er  forgets  that  o'er  him  still 

Is  God's  All-seeing  eye! 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


31.    THE  ANTITHESIS. 

BY.  ROB  MORRIS. 

How  sad  to  the  Grave  are  our  feet  slowly  tending, 

The  cold  form  of  one  whom  we  loved,  on  the  bier! 
What  sighs  swell  our  hearts  while  above  him  we're  bendinj^ 

And  shudder  to  think  we  must  part  with  him  here ! 
Ah,  gloomy  is  life  when  our  friend  has  departed ! 

Ah,  weary  the  pathway  to  travel  alone ! 
There's  little  remaineth  to  cheer  the  lone-hearted 

Oppressed  with  the  burden,  "  the  loved  one  is  gone ! 

But  glad  from  the  Grave  are  our  feet  homeward  tending, 

Though  death's  cold  embraces  our  brother  restrain ! 
Hope  springs  from  the  hillock  above  which  we're  bending, 

And  whispers  "  Rejoice!  you  shall  meet  him  again! 
Death's  midnight  is  sad,  but  there  cometh  the  morning, 

The  pathway  is  weary — its  ending  is  nigh." 
Then  patient  we  wait  till  the  glorious  dawning, 

That's  told  in  our  emblems  of  life  in  the  sky  I 

32.    THE  QUARRY. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Darkly  hid  beneath  the  quarry. 

Masons,  many  a  true  block  lies 
Hands  must  shape,  and  hands  must  carry, 
Ere  the  stone  the  Master  prize. 
Seek  for  it — measure  it — > 
Fashion  it — polish  it — 
Then  the  Master  will  it  prize. 

What  though  shapeless,  rough  and  heavy, 

Think  ye  God  his  works  will  lose  ? 
Raise  the  block  with  strength  he  gave  ye, 
Fit  it  for  the  Master's  use! 
Seek  for  it — measure  it — 
Fashion  it  —polish  it — 
Then  the  Master  will  it  use. 

'Twas  for  this  our  Fathers  banded — 

Through  life's  quarries  they  did  roam, 
Faithful  hearted,  skillful  handed. 
Bearing  many  a  true  block  home. 
Noticing — measuring — 
Fashioning — polishing — 
For  their  glorious  Temple  home. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


37 


23.    THE  EVERGREEN  ON  TPIE  BREAST. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

[Morgan  Lewis,  Grand  Master  of  New  York,  expressed  a  desire,  in 
the  last  moments  of  his  life,  that  a  sprig  of  evergreen  should  be  placed 
upon  his  breast,  when  his  body  was  prepared  for  interment,  and  laid  in 
his  coffin  with  him.    His  wish  was  gratified.] 
The  veteran  sinks  to  rest ; — 
"  Lay  it  upon  my  breast. 
And  let  it  crumble  with  my  heart  to  dust — 
Its  leaves  a  lesson  tell; — 
Their  verdure  teacheth  well 
The  everlasting  greenness  of  my  trust. 

"  Through  three-score  years  and  ten, 

With  failing,  dying  men, 
I've  wept  the  uncertainties  of  life  and  time  I 

The  symbols  loved  of  yore, 

Have  changed,  have  lost  their  power, 
All  save  this  emblem  of  a  Faith  sublime. 

Things  are  not  as  they  were; — 

The  Level  and  the  Square, 
Those  time-worn  implements  of  love  in  truth, 

The  Incense  flowing  o'er, 

The  Lamb-skin  chastely  pure, 
Bear  not  the  interpretation  as  in  youth. 

"Their  moral  lore  they  lose; 

They  mind  me  but  of  those. 
Now  in  death's  chambers  who  their  teachings  knew. 

I  see  them — they  but  breathe 

The  charnel  airs  of  death, — 
I  can  not  hear  their  saddening  forms  to  view. 

"  But  this^  0  symbol  bright  I 

Surviving  age's  blight. 
This  speaks  in  honey-tones,  unchanged,  unchanged  1 

In  it  I  read  my  youth, 

In  it  my  manhood's  truth, 
In  it  bright  forms  of  glory  long  estranged. 

"  Green  leaves  of  summer  skies, 

Blest  type  of  Paradise  ! 
Tokens  that  there's  a  world  I  soon  shall  see, 

Of  these  take  good  supply ; 

And  Brothers  when  I  die. 
Lay  them  upon  my  breast  to  die  with  me !  ^' 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


'Twas  done.    They're  crumbled  now, 

He  lies  in  ashes  too ; 
Yet  was  that  confidence  inspired  in  vain  ? 

Ah  no,  his  noble  heart, 

When  death's  dark  shades  depart, 
With  them  in  glory  shall  spring  forth  again  ? 


24.    OLD-TIME  FREEMASONS. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Music — '■^The  fine  old  English  Oenilemanr 

Ho!  Brothers  of  the  Mystic  Tie, 

Come  round  me  if  you  please; 
Lay  down  the  gavel  and  the  square, 

And  let  the  trowel  cease; 
The  work  may  stop  a  little  while, 

The  Master  will  not  blame, 
While  I  from  memory  sing  of  one 

Right  worthy  of  the  name, — 
A  true  old-time  Freemason 
Of  the  days  of  Washington. 


Of  every  superfluity 

His  mind  he  did  divest; 
He  would  not  set  a  timber  up 

Unless  it  was  the  best: 
He  plumbed,  and  squared,  and  leveled  well 

The  blocks,  and  set  them  true, 
Then  turned  his  apron  master-wise 

And  spread  the  mortar  due ! 
This  true  old-time  Freemason 
Of  the  days  of  Washington. 


When  bloody  war  at  foreign  hands, 

His  country  threatened  sore, 
He  thought  it  right  to  take  the  sword. 

And  guard  his  native  shore; 
He  stood  where  bravest  hearts  are  found — 

He  struck  for  liberty. 
But  when  the  conquered  foemen  sued, 

A  man  of  mercy  he  ! 

This  true  old-time  Freemason 
Of  the  days  of  Washington. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Upon  his  girdle  was  no  staia 

His  work  had  no  defect, 
The  overseer  accepted  all, 

And  nothing  to  reject. 
He  lived  in  peace  with  God  and  man, 

He  died  in  glorious  hope, 
That  Christ,  the  Lion,  Judah's  pride, 

Shall  raise  his  body  up  ! 

This  true  old-time  Freemason 
Of  the  days  of  Washington. 

2S.    A  THOUGHT  OF  DEATH. 

BY  EOB  MORRIS. 

By  the  pallid  hue  of  those. 
Whose  sweet  blushes  mocked  the  rose; 
By  the  fixed,  unmeaning  eye, 
Sparkled  once  so  cheerfully; 

By  the  cold  damps  on  the  brow, 
By  the  tongue,  discordant  now; 
By  the  grasp,  and  laboring  breath, 
What!  oh  tell  us,  what  is  death? 

By  the  vacancy  of  heart, 
Where  the  lost  one  had  a  part; 
By  the  3'earning  to  retrieve. 
Treasures  hidden  in  the  grave; 

By  the  future,  hopeless  all. 
Wrapped  as  in  a  funeral  pall ; 
By  the  Unks  that  rust  beneath, 
What !  oh  tell  us,  what  is  death  ? 

By  the  echoes  swelled  around, 
Sigh,  and  raoaa,  and  sorrow-sound 
By  the  grave,  that  opened  nigh, 
Cruel,  yields  us  no  reply ; 

By  the  silent  king,  whose  dart, 
Seeks  and  finds  each  mortal  heart; 
We  may  know,  no  human  breath, 
Can  inform  us  what  is  death? 

But,  the  grave  has  spoken  loud  ! 
Once  was  raised  the  pallid  shroud: — 
When  the  stone  was  rolled  away. 
When  the  earth  in  frenzy's  play — 


40 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


Shook  her  pillars  to  awake 
Him  who  suffered  for  our  sake  ^ 
When  the  vail's  deep  fissure  showed 
Choicest  mysteries  of  God  ! 

Tell  us,  then,  thou  grave  of  hope, 
What  is  He  that  fills  thee  up  ? 

Mortal,  from  my  chambers  dim, 
Christ  arose — inquire  of  him  I  " 

Hither,  to  the  faintest  cry, 
Notes  celestial,  make  reply : 
''Christian,  unto  thee  'tis  given, 
Death's  a  passage  into  heaven." 


26.   LAMENT  OF  THE  AGED  CEAFTSMAN. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

The  attachment  of  old  age  to  the  objects  of  the  past,  is  no  where 
seen  more  clearly  than  in  the  experience  of  aged  Masons.  In  a  recent 
visit  to  one  who  had  numbered  his  four  score  years  and  seven,  the  wri- 
ter was  touched  with  the  decided  manner  in  which  the  old  man  upheld 
the  Freemasonry  of  the  last  century,  in  contrast  with  the  present. 
With  many  anecdotes  that  went  to  show  the  Masonic  spirit  of  our 
fathers,  the  venerable  Brother  declared,  "There's  nothing  in  modern 
Masonry  to  compare  with  that!"  Retiring  for  the  night,  we  noted 
down  his  sentiment,  and  have  ventured  to  throw  it,  though  imperfectly, 
into  verse. 

There's  tenfold  Lodges  in  the  land 

Than  when  my  days  were  few; 
But  none  can  number  such  a  band, 

The  wise,  the  bright,  the  true. 
As  stood  around  me  on  that  night. 
When  first  I  saw  the  Mystic  Light, 
Full  fifty  years  ago. 

There's  Brother  Love  and  Brother  Aid, 

Where'er  the  Craft  is  known; 
But  none  like  that  whose  twinings  made 

The  mighty  chain  that's  gone — 
Ah,  none  like  that  which  bound  my  soul, 
When  first  my  eyes  beheld  the  goal 
Full  fifty  years  ago. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


41 


There's  emblems  green  to  deck  the  bed 
Of  Masons  where  they  rest ; 

But  none  like  those  we  used  to  spread 
Upon  the  Mason's  breast, 

When  yielding  up  to  death,  they  fell. 

Who'd  battled  with  the  monster  well, 
Full  fifty  years  ago. 


Oh,  how  my  heart  is  kindled  now, 

When  round  me  meet  again 
The  shadows  of  the  noble  few, 

Who  formed  the  mystic  train, 
In  which  my  feet  were  proud  to  tread, 
When  through  admiring  crowds  we  sped, 
Full  fifty  years  ago. 


They're  fled,  that  noble  train, — they're  gone, — 

Their  last  procession's  o'er, — 
And  I  am  left  to  brood  alone. 

Ere  I  too  leave  the  shore ; 
But  while  I  have  a  grateful  tear, 
I'll  praise  the  bright  ones  that  were  here, 
Full  fifty  years  age. 


27.    THE  CEDAR  TREE. 

% 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

(In  the  lawn  that  graces  Bro.  F  's  residence,  stands  a  Cedar 

Tree  planted  in  1836,  "for  Masonic  purposes."  Still  the  withered 
hand  that  placed  it  there  ( to  furnish,  sprigs  of  evergreen  for  my 
burial,  Bro.  Morris  !")  is  strong  enough  to  do  the  master's  Work  at 
each  Lodge  meeting  ;  and  still  at  an  age  passing  the  Psalmist's  compu- 
tation, the  proprietor  waits  patiently  for  the  day  when  its  limbs  shall 
be  bared  of  their  foliage  to  bestrew  his  cofiin. ) 

Droops  thy  bough,  0  Cedar  Tree, 

Like  yon  dear,  yon  aged  form. 
Droops  thy  bough  in  sympathy. 

For  the  wreck  of  life's  sad  storm  I 
Sad,  indeed,  his  weary  age — 

Lonely  now  his  princely  home — 
And  the  thoughts  his  soul  engage, 

Are  of  winter  and  the  tomb. 

4 


42 


ODES  FOR   MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


'Twas  for  this,  0  Cedar  Tree, 

Verdant  midst  the  wintry  strife — 
'Twas  for  this  he  planted  thee, 

Type  of  an  immortal  life  ; 
That  when  round  his  grave  in  tears, 

Brothers  in  their  Art  combine, 
From  the  store  thy  foliage  bears, 

Each  may  cast  a  portion  in. 

Lo !  he  comes,  0  Cedar  Tree, 

Slowly  o'er  the  frosted  plain; 
Pauses  here  the  signs  to  see, 

Graven  with  a  mystic  pen ; 
How  does  each  some  hope  express  I 

Lighter  gleams  the  wintry  sky, 
Lighter  on  his  furrowed  face 

Smiling  at  the  mysteries. 

Soon  to  rest,  0  Cedar  Tree, 

Soon  the  veteran  shall  be  borne ; 
There  to  sleep,  and  patiently 

Wait  the  resurrection  morn. 
Thou  shalt  perish  from  the  earth, 

He  in  sacred  youth  revive, 
Glorious  in  a  better  birth — 

Truths  like  these  the  emblems  give. 

28.    OH,  THAT  IN  THIS  WORLD  OF  WEEPING. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — "  Go  forget  we." 
Oh,  that  in  this  world  of  weeping, 

Widow's  tears  and  orphan's  cry, 
Man  his  term  of  trial  keeping. 

Would  but  melt  in  sympathy  ! 
Oh  !  that  we,  each  Sister,  Brother, 

Traveling  on  the  self-same  road, 
In  our  love  for  one  another. 

Would  but  love  the  love  of  God ! 

For  that  love  would  surely  teach  us, 

Ne'er  to  crush  a  burdened  heart ; 
By  the  tender  thoughts  that  reach  us, 

When  we  see  a  tear-drop  start: 
And  the  lonely,  poor  and  saddened, 

In  his  almost  cheerless  grief, 
By  our  liberal  bounty  gladdened, 

Would  acknowledge  the  relief. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 

Here,  then,  met  in  social  pleasure — 

Here  before  the  word  divine. 
While  our  life  contain  the  treasure, 

Let  us  in  this  covenant  join : 
Tears  to  dry,  to  comfort  sighing, 

Gentle  words  and  smiles  to  strow, 
By  the  sick,  and  by  the  dying, 

Patient,  God-like  love  to  show. 

Then  though  we  must  part  like  others, 

And  the  dead  be  joined  among, 
In  the  hearts  of  Sisters,  Brothers, 

We  shall  be  remembered  long, 
Those  who  speak  of  us  shall  name  us. 

As  the  dead  to  memory  dear ; 
And  the  page  of  friendship  claim  us, 

Worthy  of  a  grateful  tear. 

29.    MORN,  NOON,  EVENING. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — "  Go  forget  meP 

Morn,  the  morn,  sweet  morn  is  springing, 

In  the  East  his  sign  appears — 
Dews  and  songs,  and  fragrance  flinging 

On  the  new  robe  nature  wears; 
Forth  from  slumber,  forth  and  meet  him 

Who  too  dead  to  love  and  light  ? 
Forth,  and  as  you  stand  to  greet  him 

Praise  to  Him  who  giveth  night. 

Noon,  the  noon,  high  noon  is  glowing — 

In  the  South  rich  glories  burn  ; 
Beams  intense  from  Heaven  are  flowing, 

Mortal  eye  must  droop  and  turn; 
Forth  and  meet  him  !  while  the  chorus, 

Of  the  groves  is  nowhere  heard, 
Kneel  to  him  who  bendeth  o'er  us. 

Praise  with  heart  and  willing  word. 

Eve,  the  eve,  still  eve  is  weeping — 

In  the  West  she  dies  away ; 
Every  winged  one  is  sleeping. 

They've  no  life  but  open  daj^ ; 
Forth  and  meet  her !  lo  she  lends  us 

Thrice  ten  thousand  brilliants  high ; 
Glory  to  his  name  who  sends  us 

Such  bright  jewels  from  the  sky. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 

Death,  pale  death  to  all  is  certain — 

From  the  grave  his  voice  comes  up; 
"Fearless  pass  my  gloomy  curtain 

Find  within  eternal  hopes." 
Forth  and  meet  him,  ye  whose  duty 

To  the  Lord  of  Life  is  given — 
He  will  clothe  death's  garb  with  beauty, 

He  will  give  a  path  to  Heaven. 


30.    A  PLACE  IN  THE  LODaE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Air — "J.  Life  on  the  Ocean  WaveJ^ 

A  Place  in  the  Lodge  for  me; 

A  home  with  the  free  and  the  bright; 
Where  jarring  cords  agree, 

And  the  darkest  soul  is  light : 
Not  here,  not  here  is  bliss ; 

There's  turmoil  and  there's  gloom; 
My  heart  it  yearns  for  peace — 

Say,  Brothers,  say,  is  there  room  ? 
A  place  in  the  Lodge  for  me,  etc. 


My  feet  are  weary  worn, 

And  my  eyes  are  dim  with  tears ; 
This  world  is  all  forlorn, 

A  wilderness  of  fears; 
But  there  s  one  green  spot  below, 

There's  a  resting-place,  a  home, 
My  heart  it  yearns  to  know. 

Say,  Brothers,  say,  is  there  room? 
A  place  in  the  Lodge  for  me,  etc. 


I  hear  the  orphan's  cry, 

And  I  see  the  widow's  tear; 
I  weep  when  mortals  die. 

And  none  but  God  is  near; 
From  sorrow  and  despair, 

I  seek  the  Masons'  home, — 
My  heart  it  yearns  to  share — 

Say,  Brothers,  say,  is  there  room  ? 
A  place  in  the  Lodge  for  me,  etc. 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIONS. 


With  God's  own  eye  above, 

With  Brother-hands  below, 
With  friendship  and  with  love, 

My  pilgrimage  I'll  go; 
And  when  in  Death's  embrace, 

My  summons  it  shall  come, 
Within  your  heart's  best  place, 

0  Brothers,  oh  give  me  room. 

A  place  in  the  Lodge  for  me, 

A  home  with  the  free  and  bright, 

Where  jarring  cords  agree. 
And  the  darkest  soul  is  light. 


31.    THE  CORNER  STONE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Round  the  spot — Moriah's  hill — 
Masons  met  with  cheerful  will,- 
Him  who  stood  as  King  that  day, 
We  as  cheerfully  obey. 
Cho. — Lord,  we  love  thy  glorious  namfe, 
Give  the  grace  thou  gavest  him. 


Round  the  spot  thus  chosen  well. 
Brothers,  with  fraternal  hail, 
Gather  in  your  mystic  ring, 
Mystic  words,  and  joyful  sing. 
Cho. — Lord,  our  hearts,  our  souls  are  thine. 
On  our  labors  deign  to  shine. 


Round  the  spot  may  Plenty  reign, — 
Peace^  with  spirit  all  benign ; 
Unity ^  the  golden  three — 
Here  their  influence  ever  be. 
Cho. — Lord,  these  jewels  of  Thy  store. 
Lend  them  bounteous,  flowing  o'er. 


Round  the  spot  where  now  we  stand. 
Soon  will  stand  another  band ; 
We  to  other  worlds  must  go, 
Call'd  by  Him  we  trust  below. 
Cho. — Lord,  thy  spirit  grant,  that  they 
All  thy  counsel  may  obey. 


ODES  FOR  MASOXTC  OCCASIONS. 

S3.    THE  LOVING  TIE. 

BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

The  Loving  Tie  we  feel, 

No  language  can  reveal, 
'Tis  seen  in  the  sheen  of  a  fond  Brother's  eye ; 

It  trembles  on  the  ear 

When  melting  with  a  tear, 
A  Brother  bids  us  cease  to  sigh. 

Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant 
For  Brothers  in  unity  to  dwell ! 

As  heaven's  dews  are  shed 

On  Zion's  sacred  head — 
The  blessings  of  the  Lord  we  feel. 

'Twas  at  a  sufferer's  bed 

Now  moldering  with  the  dead, 
This  Bond^  ah,  so  fond,  was  discovered  first  to  me ! 

I  saw  his  dying  eye 

Light  up  with  speechless  joy, 
And  I  felt  how  fond  that  love  can  be. 

I  ever  will  proclaim 

With  gratitude  the  name 
Of  Him,  the  Divine,  who  has  granted  this  to  me, 

That  weary  tho'  I  stray 

O'er  nature's  rugged  way, 
I  never,  never,  alone  can  be. 

There's  some  I  know  will  smile 

And  others  may  revile ; 
'Tis  so  as  we  knovf  with  the  evil  heart  alway — 

But  if  I  can  but  prove 

Through  life  a  Mason's  love^ 
I  little  care  what  man  may  say. 

Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant 
For  Brothers'  in  unity  to  dwell ! 

As  heaven's  dews  are  shed 

On  Zion's  sacred  head — 
The  blessings  of  the  Lord  we  feel ! 


ODES  FOR  MASONIC  OCCASIOx\S. 


47 


33.    QUARRY,  HILL  AND  TEMPLE. 

BY  ROB  MOERTS. 

Thine  in  the  Quarry^  ^vllpnce  the  stone 
For  mystic  workmanship  is  drawn  : 

On  Jordan's  shore, 

By  Zarthan's  plain, 
Tho'  faint  and  weary,  thine  alone. 
The  gloomy  mine  knows  not  a  ray — 
The  heavy  toil  exhausts  the  day — 

I3ut  love  keeps  bright 

The  weary  heart, 
And  sings,  i'm  thine  without  decay. 

Thine  on  the  Hill  whose  cedars  roar 
Their  perfect  forms  and  foliage  fair: 

Each  graceful  shaft 

And  deathless  leaf. 
Of  Masons'  love  the  symbols  are. 
Thine  when  a  smile  pervades  the  heaven — 
Thine  when  the  sky's  v/ith  thunder  riven — 

Each  echo  swells 

Through  answering  hills, 
My  Mason  prayer/or  thee  His  given. 

Thine  in  the  Temple^  holy  place — 
Where  silence  reigns  the  type  of  peace  ; 

With  grip  and  sign, 

And  mystic  line. 
My  Mason's  love  I  do  confess. 
Each  block  I  raise,  my  friendship  grows ; 
Cemented  firmly  ne'er  to  loose, 

And  when  complete, 

My  work  I  greet. 
Thine  in  the  joy  my  bosom  knows. 

Thine  at  the  midnight  in  the  cave-— 
Thine  on  the  floats  upon  the  wave — 

By  Joppa's  hill. 

By  Kedron's  rill, 
And  thine  when  Sabbath  rest  we  have. 
Yes,  yes,  dear  friend,  my  spirit  saith — 
I^m  thine  until  and  after  death. 

No  bounds  control 

The  Mason's  soul 
Cemented  with  a  Mason's  faith. 


VIEW 


OF  THE 

CITY  OF  JERUSALEM. 


AS  BESIEGED  BY  TITUS. 


AN  ENGRAVING, 


IN  THE  HIGHEST  STYLE  OF  THE  ART  AND  BRILLIANTLY  COLORED. 


CINCINNATI: 
PUBLISHED  BY  JOHN  SHERER, 

No.    69   PIKE  STBEET, 

1  8  5  9. 


A.  DESOIlII>TIO]Sr 

*  OP  THE 

VIEW  OF  JERUSALEM, 

AS  BESIEGED  BY  TITUS. 
BY  ROB  MORRIS. 

Nothing  yet  published  upon  this  subject  strikes  the  eye  so 
favorably  as  this  engraving  just  issued  by  John  Sherer,  Esq., 
and  done  in  the  celebrated  establishment  of  Sarony  &  Major, 
of  New  York.  In  size  it  is  twenty  by  twenty-six  inches,  the 
proper  dimensions  for  mapping  and  framing.  The  quality  of 
paper  upon  which  it  is  printed  is  of  the  very  best  in  strength, 
tint  and  texture,  that  can  be  manufactured.  In  every  way 
it  does  credit  to  the  subject,  the  publisher,  and  the  large  and 
respectable  class  to  whom  he  now  confidently  appeals  for 
patronage.  The  hope  is  entertained  that  this  first  attempt 
among  our  own  countrymen  to  perpetuate  the  past  glories  of 
the  "  City  of  Peace,"  the  ancient  Salem,  will  be  met  in  a 
spirit  of  liberal  encour^agement  and  support. 

To  give  the  reader  a  correct  description  of  this  splendid 
picture  we  commence  with  an  outline  sketch  illustrating  the 
gradual  formation  of  Jerusalem.-i^ 

As  the  Israelites  stood  on  the  elevated  peaks  of  Moab,  and 


*  For  most  of  the  details  of  this  description  the  writer  is  indebted 
to  ''Bartlett's  Walks  About  .Jerusalem,''  a  work  of  rare  merit. 
(2) 


4 


looked  with  eager  gaze  west  and  north-west  across  the  long, 
deep  basin  of  the  river  Jordan,  a  wild  chaos  of  hills  and 
broken  country  in  the  horizon,  met  their  view.  In  the  midst 
of  these  was  the  hill-fort  of  the  Jebusites,  the  almost  impreg- 
nable city,  afterward  Jerusalem,  or  the  City  of  Peace.  This 
was  the  key  to  the  whole  range,  and  proved  the  last  of  their 
conquests  in  Canaan.  At  that  period  only  the  left  hand,  or 
southern  portion  was  built  up,  called  the  Hill  or  Mountain 
of  Sion.  This  was  alike  the  boldest  and  most  extensive. 
It  was  separated  from  Moriah  on  the  north-east,  and  Acra 
on  the  north,  by  a  narrow  ravine,  afterward  styled  the  Tyro- 
peon  ;  on  the  south  and  west  the  Valley  of  Hinnom  made  a 
sure  defense  from  all  attacks.  The  desperate  resolution  of  the 
inhabitants  against  the  onset  of  David's  host,  as  detailed  in 
the  II.  Book  of  Samuel,  Chap,  v.,  evinces  alike  the  strength 
of  the  position,  and  the  importance  attached  by  that  great 
captain  to  its  possession. 

"And  the  king  and  his  men  went  to  Jerusalem  unto  the 
Jebusites,  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  which  spake  unto 
David,  saying,  Except*thou  take  away  the  lame  and  the  blind 
thou  shalt  not  come  in  hither ;  thinking  David  can  not  come 
in  hither. 

"  Nevertheless  David  took  the  stronghold  of  Sion  :  the 
same  is  the  city  of  David. 

And  David  said  on  that  day,  whosoever  getteth  up  to  the 
gutter  and  smiteth  the  Jebusites,  and  the  lame  and  the  blind 
that  are  hated  of  David's  soul,  he  shall  be  chief  and  captain. 
Wherefore  they  said,  The  blind  and  the  lame  shall  not  come 
into  the  house. 

So  David  dwelt  in  the  fort,  and  called  it  the  city  of 
David." 

Following  its  capture  by  David,  it  received  a  large  acces- 
sion of  population,  and  Jerusalem  soon  became  the  rival  of 


5 

Hebron,  and  tlie  favorite  of  tlie  Jewish  people,  and  tlie  me^ 
tropolis  of  the  nation.  David  built  his"  palace  upon  Mount 
Sion  ;  Solomon  enlarged  and  beautified  the  royal  buildingSj 
and  the  neighboring  summit,  Moriah,  being  selected  as  the 
site  of  the  Temple,  the  City  became  the  "joy  of  the  whole 
earth,"  for  strength  and  beauty.  From  that  period  to  the 
present,  it  has  been  known  as  the  seat  of  wonders,  the  glory 
of  man,  the  standing  monument  of  a  thousand  histories,  the 
sacred  spot. 

As  marked  in  the  sketch,  the  first  increase  beyond  the  City 
of  David,  on  Mount  Sion,  must  have  been,  from  the  topograph- 
ical necessities  of  the  case,  to  the  eastward  and  northward* 
Mt.  Moriah,  sloping  toward  the  south,  presented  a  hillside  not 
too  steep  for  dwellings ;  and  soon  the  residences  of  the  inhab^ 
itants  began  to  make  their  way  toward  its  summit. 

The  extent  of  the  city  in  the  time  of  Solom.on  is  doubtful, 
though  we  may  be  probably  right  in  supposing  that  the  Hill 
of  Acra,  on  the  north  of  Zion,  was  in  his  time  inclosed  by  a 
fortified  wall.  We  know  that  the  sterile  environs  of  Jeru- 
salem were  at  this  period  converted  by  labor  and  irrigation, 
into  a  scene  of  comparative  fertility  and  beauty.  The  highly 
poetical  account  given  by  Solomon  himself,  in  the  Book  of 
Ucclesiastes,  confirms  this  conclusion.    He  says  : 

"  I  made  me  great  works  :  I  builded  me  houses  :  I  planted 
me  vineyards ; 

I  made  me  gardens,  and  orchards,  and  I  planted  trees  in 
them  of  all  kinds  of  fruits > 

I  made  me  pools  of  water,  to  water  therewith  the  wood 
that  bringeth  forth  trees"  — 

The  next  sketch  brings  us  to  a  view  of  Jerusalem,  as  appa- 
rent at  the  present  time  ;  and  enables  us  at  a  glance,  to  trace 
the  topographical  changes  it  has  undergone* 


I 

in  describiiig  the  present  appearance  of  Jerusalem  we  are 
mo  longer  left  to  conjecture ;  the  concurrent  testimony  of 
thousands  of  travelers,  has  established  the  facts  as  presented 
in  this  sketch.  And  first  we  observe,  by  comparison  with  the 
last  sketch,  that  since  the  earlier  days  of  Jerusalem,  the  entire 
city  has  removed  east  and  north;  there  are  now  but  few  hab- 
itations on  the  hill  Sion,  formerly  the  Royal  City  of  David 
and  Solomon.  The  portion  of  the  city  at  the  present  time 
occupied  by  the  Jews,  is  upon  the  space  once  the  valley  or 
ravine  between  Sion  and  Moriah,  now  filled  up,  and  almost 
directly  west  of  the  Temple.  But  a  small  portion,  in  fact,  of 
the  ancient  Sion  is  now  within  the  walls  that  inclose  the  city ; 
and  that  which  David  desired  so  greatly  for  a  possession,  and 
for  which  the  blood  of  his  bravest  was  so  cheerfully  poured 
out,  is  now  a  waste  place,  incumbered  with  ruins,  the  abode  of 
the  jackal.  The  spot  on  which  so  many  of  the  deathless 
Psalms  were  composed,  resounds  now  at  night  with  the  howl 
of  beasts,  or  the  savage  brawls  of  a  nomadic  people  "  whose 
hand  is  against  every  man,  and  every  man's  hand  against 
them." 

With  these  outline  sketches,  and  the  figures  of  reference 
accompanying  them,  we  can  proceed  to  excellent  advantage  in 
illustrating  the  splendid  engraving  of  Sherer's,  which  forms 
the  subject  of  this  pamphlet.  Its  title,  ^'Jerusalem  as  Be- 
sieged BY  Titus,"  gives  us  a  general  idea  of  the  plan  and 
purpose  of  the  whole. 

From  the  hill  south-east  of  the  Temple  wall,  and  over- 
looking the  entire  city  in  its  three  principal  divisions^&'o/i, 
Moriah^  and  Acra — the  sketch  is  taken.  From  that  point,  as 
the  Roman  general  occupied  it,  Jerusalem  lay  under  his  eye 
as  in  a  panorama.  The  fastnesses  of  Sion  were  as  in  the  days 
of  the  Jebusites,  1,300  years  before,  nearly  impregnable 
against  any  of  the  military  engines  in  use  at  that  period. 
The  Temple,  precious  to  every  Jew  as  the  apple  of  the  eye. 


8 


glittered  in  all  its  array  of  gold  and  marble,  like  tte  newly- 
disposed  settings  in  the  diadem  of  a  king.  Further  north  and 
north-west,  towers,  and  fortresses,  and  armed  places  guarded 
the  city  at  every  angle,  and  every  feeble  spot  was  triply  de- 
fended by  a  people  resolute  to  preserve  Jerusalem,  or  leave 
their  bodies  in  its  ruins. 

Our  engraving  represents  the  young  and  noble  warrior  at 
the  head  of  a  strong  detachment,  preceded  by  his  ensign- 
bearer,  and  making  his  daily  circuit  of  the  beleaguered  city. 
Far  in  the  north  are  the  tents  of  his  host,  almost  countless  in 
number,  crowning  the  slopes  of  Bezetha,  and  doggedly  set 
upon  a  conquest  for  which  they  had  come  so  far,  and  had 
already  suffered  so  much.  A  smaller  encampment  of  his 
forces  appears  on  Mt.  Olives,  to  the  right,  while  the  thous- 
ands upon  thousands  of  the  Roman  forces  appear  on  the  left^ 
winding  up  from  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  fierce  in  the  panoply 
of  war.  The  tout  ensemble  of  Sherer's  Engraving  is  magnifi- 
cent in  the  extreme.  Of  two  of  the  Towers,  seen  near  the 
south-western  angle  of  the  wall  which  inclosed  Sion,  Jose- 
phus  says : 

"  These  were,  for  largeness,  beauty  and  strength,  beyond 
all  that  were  in  the  habitable  earth ;  for,  besides  the  magna- 
nimity of  his  nature,  and  his  magnificence  toward  the  city  on 
other  occasions,  he  built  these  after  such  an  extraordinary 
manner,  to  gratify  his  own  private  affections,  and  dedicated 
these  towers  to  the  memory  of  those  three  persons  who  had 
been  the  dearest  to  him,  and  from  whom  he  named  them. 
They  were  his  brother,  his  friend  and  his  wife.  This  wife  he 
had  slain  out  of  his  love  (and  jealousy),  as  we  have  already 
related ;  the  other  two  he  lost  in  war,  as  they  were  courage- 
ously fighting.  Hippicus,  so  named  from  his  friend,  was 
square;  its  length  and  breadth  were  each  twenty-five  cubits, 
and  its  height  thirty,  and  it  had  no  vacuity  in  it.    Over  this 


9 


solid  building,  which  was  composed  of  great  stones  united  to^ 
getlievj  there  was  a  reservoir  twenty  cubits  deep,  over  which 
there  was  a  house  of  two  stories,  whose  height  was  twenty- five 
cubits,  and  divided  into  several  parts,  over  which  were  battle- 
ments of  two  cubits  high,  and  turrets  all  round  of  three  cubits 
high ;  so  that  the  entire  height  amounted  to  four-score  cu- 
bits," etc. 

The  Temple  itself,  as  painted  in  the  glowing  words  of 
Croly,*  is  thus  depicted  : 

"  Of  all  the  labors  of  human  wealth  and  power  devoted  to 
worship,  the  Temple  was  the  most  mighty.  I  have  seen  all 
the  most  famous  shrines  of  the  great  kingdom  of  idolatry ;  I 
have  stood  before  the  altar  of  the  Ephesian  Diana,  the  master- 
piece of  Ionian  splendor ;  I  have  strayed  through  the  woods 
of  Delphi ;  I  have  joined  the  procession  around  the  Minerva 
of  the  Acropolis,  the  Temple  of  the  Capitoline  Jove,  the  Sancta 
Sophia  of  the  Eome  of  Constantino,  the  still  more  stupendous 
and  costly  fabric  in  which  the  third  Rome  still  bows  before 
the  fishermen  of  Grallilee :  all  have  been  known  to  my  step, 
but  all  were  dreams  and  shadows  to  the  grandeur,  the  daz- 
zling beauty,  the  almost  unearthly  glory  of  that  Temple  which 
once  covered  the  Mount  of  Vision  of  the  City  of  the  Lord. 

"  I  have  its  image  in  my  mind's  eye  with  living  and  pain- 
ful fullness.  I  see  the  Court  of  the  Gentiles  circling  the 
whole ;  a  fortress  of  the  whitest  marble,  with  its  wall  rising 
six  hundred  feet  from  the  valley ;  its  kingly  entrance  worthy 
of  the  fame  of  Solomon ;  its  innumerable  and  stately  dwell- 
ings for  the  priests  and  officers  of  the  Temple,  and  above 
them,  glittering  like  a  succession  of  diamonds,  those  alabaster 
porticoes  and  colonnades  in  which  the  chiefs  and  sages  of 
Jerusalem  sat  teaching  the  people,  or  walked  breathing  the 


*  Salathiel,  ch.  8. 


10 


pure  ail'  and  gazing  on  the  grandeur  of  a  landscape  wtich 
swept  the  whole  amphitheater  of  the  mountain.  I  see  rising 
above  this  stupendous  boundary  the  court  of  the  Jewish 
women,  separated  by  its  porphyry  pillars  and  richly -sculp- 
tured walls  ;  above  this  the  separated  court  of  the  men  ;  still 
higher,  the  court  of  the  priests  ;  and,  highest,  the  crowning 
splendor  of  all,  the  Central  Temple,  the  place  of  the  Sanc- 
tuary and  of  the  Holy  of  Holies,  covered  with  plates  of  gold, 
its  roof  planted  with  lofty  spear-heads  of  gold,  the  most  pre- 
cious marbles  and  metals  every  where  flashing  back  the  day, 
till  Mount  Moriah  stood  forth  to  the  eye  of  the  stranger  ap- 
proaching Jerusalem,  what  it  had  been  so  often  described  by 
its  bards  and  people,— a  mountain  of  snow  studded  with 
jewels. 

^'  The  grandeur  of  the  worship  was  worthy  of  this  glory  of 
architecture.  Four-and-twenty  thousand  Levites  ministered 
by  turns — a  thousand  at  a  time.  Four  thousand  more  per- 
formed the  lower  offices.  Four  thousand  singers  and  min- 
strels, with  the  harp,  the  trumpet,  and  all  the  richest  instru- 
ments of  a  land  whose  native  genius  was  music,  and  whose 
climate  and  landscape  led  men  instinctively  to  delight  in  the 
charms  of  sound,  chanted  the  inspired  songs  of  our  warrior- 
king,  and  filled  up  the  pauses  of  prayer  with  harmonies  that 
transported  the  spirit  beyond  the  cares  and  passions  of  a 
troubled  world." 

To  this  we  add  Bartlett's  beautiful  illustration  :  ^ 

We  first  behold  a  noble  structure  arise  on  the  rocky  hill^ 
based  on  gigantic  foundations,  reared  by  a  pious  monarch  to 
the  worship  of  the  one  Grod,  in  the  midst  of  nations  lying  in 
heathen  superstition.  Thousands  of  grateful  and  adoring 
people  pour  from  the  city  and  the  hills  into  the  wide  area 


^  Walks  about  the  City  and  Environs  of  Jerusalem. 


11 

around  it.  Whilst  their  king  solemnly  invokes  the  protect- 
tion  of  the  Most  High,  a  glory  seems  to  hover  about  the  spot, 
and  mis  with  the  clouds  of  incense  rising  into  the  heavens. 
The  seal  of  Divine  favor  seems  to  be  set  upon  the  assembled 
nation  ;  and  a  long  career  of  temporal  and  religious  prosper- 
ity to  stretch  out  before  them  into  distant  perspective. 

Centuries  had  rolled  on.  The  glory  of  Israel  was  now 
departed,  her  political  importance  was  annihilated,  her  very 
independence  gone  forever.  But  still,  another  temple,  the 
work  of  the  alien  Herod,  rises  on  the  old  foundations  ;  its 
gorgeous  golden  front,  touched  by  the  rising  sun,  beams  with 
refulgent  splendor.  Its  courts  are  thronged  with  the  mixed 
multitude  of  buyers  and  sellers,  with  crowds  of  degenerate 
worshipers,  and  a  formal  priesthood,  ^  blind  leaders  of  the 
blind.'  A  cry  is  heard  from  the  Mount  of  Olives — ^  Hosanna 
to  the  son  of  I)avid  !  '  they  issue  from  the  gates,  and  swell 
the  tumultuous  throng  in  the  valley  below,  which  presses  up 
the  ascent  to  the  temple  ;  and  perhaps  through  the  very  gate- 
way still  existing,  or  one  upon  its  site,  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
enters  the  sacred  courts,  the  teacher  of  a  more  sublime  and 
Spiritual  religion,  to  which  his  blood  ere  long,  ignorantly  and 
unjustly  shed,  sets  its  eternal  seal. 

"  But  a  few  years  later,  we  stand  on  the  same  spot,  the 
proud  fortress  Antonia,  now  the  last  rampart  of  hope  to  the 
besieged  Jews.  Below,  the  wasted  city  lies  in  ashes  ;  famine 
is  in  the  streets,  despair  begins  to  stamp  the  haggard  faces  of 
the  fierce  and  fanatic  defenders  ;  every  form  of  attack  is  tried 
against  this  bulwark  ;  the  battering-ram  thunders  against  the 
wall ;  the  mine,  the  escalade,  are  long  employed  in  vain.  The 
fierce  assault  of  host  on  host  is  repulsed  with  the  energy  of 
desperation.  But  while  the  Jews,  worn  out  with  fatigue,  are 
sleeping  on  their  arms,  the  awful  Roman  trumpet  startles 
them  like  a  knell  in  the  dead  of  night.  The  legions  storm 
the  breach  ;  the  contest  rolls  on  to  the  temple ;  step  by  step 


12 


it  IS  defended ;  the  courts  are  heaped  with  dead.  But  the 
hour  is  come,  and  the  career  of  the  chosen  people  terminates 
in  fire  and  blood,  with  the  destruction  of  their  city  and  temple, 
and  their  ^  place  and  nation  '  are  taken  away  forever." 

It  is  in  this  spirit  of  mournful  desolation  that  the  following 
lines  were  written : 

Lonely  is  Sion,  cheerless  and  still ; 
Shekinah  has  left  thee,  thou  desolate  hill  ; 
Winds  sweep  around  thee,  familiar  their  tone^ 
But  trumpet,  timbrel,  song,  are  gone. 

Joyous  was  Sion  on  that  glorious  day 
When  Israel  beheld  all  thy  temple's  display  j 
Heaven  sent  a  token  approvingly  down. 
But  temple,  altar,  cloud,  are  gone. 

Foemen  of  Sion  uplifted  the  spear, 
The  brand  to  the  templ%  the  chain  to  the  frere  j 
I^ilgrim  and  stranger,  thy  children  yet  mourn, 
But  foemen,  fetter,  brand,  are  gone. 

Spirit  of  Zion !  0  hasten  the  day 
When  Israel  shall  gather  in  matchless  array ; 
Lord,  build  thine  altars,  thy  people  return^ 
For  temple,  altar,  cloud,  are  gone. 

Such  are  the  historical  suggestions  of  this  splendid  engrav^ 
ing,  as  it  appears  before  me  while  I  write.  I  have  pored  over 
it  at  times  until,  to  my  mind,  it  became  the  very  symbol  of  all 
the  history— Jewish,  Turkish,  and  Crusading — connected  with 
the  city  which  it  depictures.  Yet  is  the  view  I  have  described 
not  the  only  one  upon  the  large  sheet  before  me ;  in  each  cor- 
ner are  handsomely-executed  engravings,  as  follows : 

1.  The  Mount  of  Olives,  and  Jerusalem  from  the  North* 
east. 

2.  The  Pool  of  Siloam. 

3.  The  Lower  Pool  of  Gihon. 

4.  Mount  Sion  from  the  Hill  of  Evil  Counsel. 

These  make  the  whole  subject  visible  to  the  eye  as  apparent 
at  the  present  day. 


S  H  E  II  E  K  ^  S 


MASONIC  DEGREE  BOOK; 

^  COMPRISING 

ALL  THE  ADMITTED  EMBLEMS  OF  THE  SYMBOLICAL  DEGREES, 
FROM  THE  ENTERED  APPRENTICE  TO  THE  MASTER  MASON: 

WITH  THE  VIEW  OF 

JERUSALEM  BESIEGED  BY  TITUS, 

AS  A  FRONTISPIECE. 


THE  WHOLE  FORMING  A  GUIDE  EQUALLY  GRACEFUL  AND  SURE  TO 
THE  INNER  MYSTERIES   OF  THE  MASONIC  INSTITUTION. 

BY    JOHN  SHEREE, 

AUTHOR  AND  COMPILEa  OF  THE  MASONIC  CARPETS  OF  THE  LODGE,  CHAPTER  AND  COUNCIL. 


CINCINNATI: 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR, 

69    PIKE  STREET. 
1  8  5  9. 


PREFACE  TO  SHERER'S  MASONIC  DEGREE  BOOK, 

By  rob  morris. 


Mr.  Sherer  has  no  equal  in  the  field  to  which  he  has  so  long 
and  so  honorably  devoted  his  time,  study  and  efforts.  From  the 
first  inception  of  his  Master's  Carpet — which  was  comparatively 
a  small,  poorly-executed  and  imperfect  compilation  of  emblems — 
to  the  publication  of  the  last — a  splendid,  six-plate  chart,  ele- 
gantly colored,  and  fit  to  adorn  the  parlor  of  a  nobleman — no 
one  has  had  the  genius  or  the  boldness  to  walk  in  his  steps. 
One  or  two  imitations,  it  is  true,  have  been  attempted  ;  but  so 
far  short  of  the  original  were  they  in  design  and  execution,  as 
scarcely  to  merit  notice  in  a  catalogue.  Mr.  Sherer  has  gained 
a  reputation  for  his  labors  in  this  department  enviable  and  sure, 
and  of  it  he  can  never  be  deprived. 

In  the  present  attempt — that  of  popularizing  Masonic  em- 
blems, and  introducing  to  the  center-table  and  the  walls  of  the 
sitting-room,  as  well  as  to  the  lodge,  the  inimitable  symbolisms 
of  Masonry — I  have  heartily  encouraged  him.  The  purpose  I 
esteem  a  noble  one.  To  exhibit  these  speaking,  these  vital 
figures  in  the  lodge-room  alone,  where  the  craft  enter  but  once 
a  month  and  remain  but  a  brief  hour  or  two,  is  far  from  suffic- 
ing to  impress  their  whole  purpose  upon  the  mind  and  con- 
science of  the  Freemason.  Neither  does  this  partial  and 
temporary  exhibition  allow  them  opportunity  to  effect  their  full 
influence,  holy  and  sublime,  upon  the  soul.    For  there  is  in 


PREFACE. 


the  emblems  of  Masonry  every  grade  of  exhortation,  warning, 
consolation  and  triumph,  of  which  the  spirit  of  man  is  suscepti- 
ble ;  and  all  these  are  expressed  in  Sherer's  various  compila- 
tions. How  important,  then,  that  they  should  be  permitted  to 
teach  in  their  silent,  yet  irresistible  method,  through  the  trials 
and  perplexities  of  life,  these  grand  lessons  of  which  they  are 
the  vehicle  !  How  striking  to  him  whom  prosperity  has  elated 
the  instruction  of  the  setting  maul  and  the  spade!  how  consoling 
to  the  bruised  in  spirit  the  parable  of  the  lamb!  how  restraining 
to  the  refractory  the  sight  of  the  cable-tow  !  how  full  of  divine 
philosophy  the  voice  of  the  urn,  the  sprig  and  the  open  book  ! 
Oh !  who  can  tell  the  good  deeds  that  might  be  suggested,  the 
evil  deeds  that  might  be  restrained,  what  sluggish  hearts  invig- 
orated, what  parsimonious  spirits  made  fruitful,  what  daring 
repressed,  what  timidity  encouraged,  by  the  daily,  hourly  sight 
of  Masonic  emblems  !  Were  the  clerk  at  his  desk,  the  tailor 
upon  his  bench,  the  carpenter  at  his  plane,  the  editor  at  his 
table,  to  have  at  those  intervals,  when  the  strained  and  weary 
eye  looks  up  for  relief,  those  inspiring  doctrines  displayed 
through  Masonic  symbology,  a  light — all  its  own — would  be 
shed  therefrom  which  would  vindicate  every  claim  Masonry 
has  made  upon  the  approbation  of  the  wase  and  good. 

The  gradation  of  symbols  in  Mr.  Sherer's  arrangements,  as 
seen  particularly  in  the  present  work,  is  wonderfully  exact  and 
perfect.  By  their  aid  the  lecturer,  skilled  in  the  rituals  as 
taught  by  Thomas  Smith  Webb — and  no  others  have  any  mer- 
its to  claim  the  attention  of  the  craft  in  this  country — is  enabled 
to  guide  his  pupil  by  the  devious,  yet  not  uncertain  w^ay  from 
the  clay  grounds  and  the  quarries,  by  the  route  of  Lebanon  and 
Joppa,  to  the  summit  of  the  sacred  hill, 

"Where  silence  reigns,  the  type  of  peace.^' 

It  is  by  no  means  the  smallest  of  the  merits  of  the  plates  of  this 
Degree  Book,  that  there  need  no  abrupt  skips  forward  and  back- 


PREFACE. 


ward  to  make  good  progress  by  their  assistance,  but  rather  by  a 
grand  and  stately  march  the  learner  is  conducted  from  the 
quarry  an  uncouth,  imperfect  block,  to  the  grave,  a.  perfected 
stone  fit  for  the  Master's  use. 

Another  merit,  altogether  peculiar  to  Mr.  Sherer's  plates,  is 
the  beauty  of  their  execution.  An  artist's  hand  is  visible 
through  all  these  drav/ings.  They  have  been  pronounced  upon 
by  cultivated  skill  as  displaying  the  highest  merit  in  point  of 
finish.  They  are  fit  to  hang  in  the  dainty  parlor,  the  cosy 
sitting-room,  the  thronged  office  of  the  professional  man.  I 
have  seen  them,  and  my  eye  has  kindled  as  I  have  seen,  be- 
hind the  chair  of  men  whose  genius  was  a  national  possession, 
and  above  the  sofa  of  women  whose  wit  and  beauty  were  the 
delight  of  a  great  circle.  With  suitable  framings  they  will  not 
discredit  a  gallery  of  paintings,  arranged  for  an  annual  exhibi- 
tion. 

The  influence  of  Mr.  Sherer's  carpets  upon  the  Masonic  mind 
during  the  past  ten  years,  deserves  at  least  a  passing  remark  in 
this  connection.  Few  can  realize  the  full  extent  of  that  influ- 
ence. They  have  hung  in  most  of  the  lodges  and  chapters  in 
the  United  States  long  enough  to  test  thoroughly  their  efficacy 
in  painting  upon  every  Mason's  mind  the  true  alphabet  of 
Masonic  symbols.  'No  innovation  is  now  possible  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  these  matters,  at  least  none  in  this  generation. 
JSTo  new  emblems  would  now  be  admitted  into  use,  no  old  ones 
dropped  from  use  by  those  Vv^ho  have  sat  in  the  lodge,  through 
so  many  hours,  with  eyes  fixed  upon  these  dravfings.  The 
influence  of  pictorial  illustrations  upon  the  learner's  mind  is 
admitted  by  all  educators  as  of  the  first  class  in  importance  ; 
how  great  that  influence  derived  from  illustrations  drawn  from 
Masonic  symbology,  in  which  every  emblem  evolves  a  part  of 
the  moral  and  spiritual  history  of  every  man.  The  present 
generation  of  Masons  has  been  educated  symbolically  by  Mr. 
Sherer's  carpets. 


PREFACE. 


The  last  observation  enables  me  to  deduce  the  moral  of  this 
preface.  The  education  of  the  coming  generation  of  Masons,  it 
is  now  generally  admitted,  had  best  begin  outside  of  their  initi- 
ation. To  this  end  Masonic  books  and  periodicals  are  distrib- 
uted,, and  to  exceeding  great  advantage.  To  this  end  these 
plates  of  Sherer's  Degree  Book  are  strikingly  adapted  ;  they 
form  an  educational  auxiliary  of  the  first  class.  The  boy 
reared  up  daily  to  look  upon  this  array  of  Masonic  fig*ures, 
becomes  truly  a  Mason  in  heart,  in  contemplation,  in  desire, 
years  before  his  timorous  knock  is  heard  in  the  north-west  of  a 
lodge.  The  girl  habituated  to  the  sight  of  these  beautiful  and 
harmonious  representations,  will  be  found  when,  in  her  turn, 
slie  becomes  wife  and  mother,  to  bestow  a  woman's  greeting 
upon  the  society  of  which  these  are  the  outward  manifestations. 
Thus,  in  every  way,  the  Order  is  served  by  their  popular  use. 

The  propriety  of  the  engraving  of  Jerusalem,  besieged  by 
Titus,"  as  a  frontispiece  to  the  Degree  Book,  will,  I  apprehend, 
be  manifest  to  every  one.  The  Sacred  City  was  the  original,  as 
it  is  in  every  sense  the  type  of  our  Institution.  To  walk  about 
her  walls,  to  behold  her  bulwarks,  and  to  contemplate  her 
ancient  glories,  is  a  delight  to  every  Mason.  To  the  City  of 
Salem  every  eye  is  turned  as  the  great  events  evolved  in  Ma- 
sonic traditions  are  rehearsed,  and  each  true  brother,  when  his 
labor  and  pilgrimage  shall  cease  on  earth,  claims  burial  there 
where  the  hand  of  the  Spoiler  can  never  again  be  laid  upon  his 
head. 

Louisville,  Ky.,  May,  1859. 


CLUBBING. — Great  inducements  are  offered  to  Brethren  in  clubbing.  The 
Degree  Book  Plates,  in  lots  of  at  least  five  sets,  will  be  sold  as  low  as  $4  per  set. 
The  View  of  Solomon's  Temple,  and  the  View  of  Jerusalem  besieged  by  Titus, 
in  quantities  as  above,  will  be  reduced  to  $1.50  each. 

The  Gems  of  Masonry,  in  quantities  of  12  copies,  will  be  reduced  to  $5. 

One  copy  of  the  Gems  of  Masonry  ivill  be  sent  to  the  Secretary  for  the  use  of 
the  lodge,  post  paid,  upon  receipt  of  4:5  cents  in  postage  stamps. 

If  a  Master's  Carpet  and  Chapter  Carpet  are  ordered  at  the  same  time,  the 
price  will  be  reduced  to  |35. 

Address  JOHN  SHERER,  69  FiJce  Street,  Cincinnati,  0. 


CATALOGUE 

OF 

JOHN  SHERER'S  MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


1.  SHERER'S  MASONIC  CARPETS. 

These  are  of  two  sorts.  The  first  is  a  Master's  Carpet,  6  by  6 J 
feet  in  size,  finished  in  map  style,  molding  at  top,  with  roller  at 
bottom,  diversified  and  rich  in  its  colorings.  The  other  presents 
the  emblems  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Council  TJegrees,  the 
same  size,  6  by  6  J  feet,  finished  in  the  same  manner. 

These  Carpets  have  been  so  long  before  the  Masonic  public,  al- 
though from  time  to  time  greatly  improved  and  beautified,  that  no 
further  description  is  needed.  Official  recommendations  have 
been  extended  in  their  favor  by  the  Grand  Lodges  and  Chapters  of 
Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Louisiana, 
Mississippi,  North  Carolina  and  Texas,  while  letters  of  approbation 
have  been  given  by  many -such  men  as  Finley  M.  King,  Kob  Morris, 
John  Dove,  James  Evans,  James  M.  Hall,  Cornelius  Moore,  Nathan 
B.  Haswell,  Salem  Town,  Benj.  Parke,  Horace  Goodwin,  Philip 
Swigert. 


2.  SHERER'S  MASONIC  DEGREE  BOOK. 

This  is  a  collection  of  emblematic  plates,  suitable  for  framing  sep- 
arately, or  for  binding  in  a  volume.  The  size  of  each  plate  is  20  by 
26  inches.  They  are  from  the  finest  lithographic  drawings,  printed 
:n  colors  on  the  best  plate  paper.  The  correctness  of  their  sym- 
bolisms and  elegance  of  execution  are  vouched  for  by  a  long  array 
of  the  intelligent  brethren  who  have  examined  them.  As  a  fron- 
tispiece, there  is  a  magnificent  engraving,  size  as  above,  of  ''Jeru- 
salem Besieged  by  Titus,"  taken  from  Bartlett's  Walks  about 
Jerusalem."    This  alone  is  worth  the  price  of  the  whole  volume, $5. 


3.  SHERER'S  GEMS  OF  MASONRY, 

Emblematic  and  Descriptive, 

Giving  the  Historical  and  Scriptural  Illustrations  of  the  Emblems  of 
Masonry  iu  the  first  Seven  Degrees,  and  including  Fifty-four  Odes  by 
the  best  poets  of  the  Craft.  This  volume  might  justly  be  styled  the 
Mine  of  Masonic  Beauties.  It  is  an  indispensable  aid  to  the  intelligent 
Master  who  would  feed  his  lodge  with  the  rich  food  of  Masonic  learning 
and  truth.  No  other  work  ever  published  blends  so  much  beauty  and 
learning  as  this. 


MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


4.  VIEW  OF  JERUSALEM  AS  BESIEGED 
BY  TITUS. 

This  is  a  magnificent  Lithograph,  printed  in  colors  in  the  best  style  of 
Saronj,  admitted  to  be  the  best  living  Lithographer.  He  has  pro- 
nounced it  his  chef  d''oe,uvre^  and  no  one  "vvill  dispute  the  correctness  of 
his  judgment  who  has  a  glimpse  of  it.  For  a  parlor  ornament,  it  la 
perfection  itself.    For  a  Lodge,  nothing  is  more  appropriate. 

The  View  is  20  by  26  inches  in  dimensions,  and  will  be  sent  securely 
packed  in  a  tin  case  to  any  part  of  the  continent  for  %2  00. 


5.  VIEW  OF  SOLOMON'S  TEMPLE, 

Engraved  at  Boston,  upon  two  steel  plates — full  dimensions,  24  by  42 
inches  —  at  a  cost  exceeding  Two  Thousand  Dollars.  This  is  the 
celebrated  design  of  Chancellor  Schott,  of  Hamburgh,  and  the  most 
complete  explication  of  the  inspired  account  of  the  great  Fane  ever 
published.  Nothing  but  an  examination  will  give  a  full  idea  of  the 
vast  amount  of  instruction  to  be  derived  from  this  engraving;  the  border 
designs,  of  which  there  are  eight,  the  subsidiary  drawings  below  the 
main  picture,  of  which  there  are  four,  and  the  Scripture  and  historical 
passages  thickly  interspersed,  make  it  a  perfect  cyclopedia  of  the  subject. 
Price,  in  sheets  for  framing,  $2.00 ;  colored  and  finished  in  map  form, 
molding  at  top  and  roller  at  bottom,  $3.00. 


G.  THE  FREEMASON'S  MONITOR, 

By  Thomas  Smith  Webb,  with  notes  and  running  comment  by  Rob 
Morris.  This  edition  of  the  old  and  standard  author,  whose  production 
has  so  long  maintained  its  place  in  public  favor  amid  the  com- 
petition of  nearly  a  score  of  imitations,  is  rendered  immensely  more 
valuable  by  the  learning  and  experience  of  the  present  Editor.  Mr. 
Morris  has  brought  all  his  knowledge  of  Masonic  law  and  usage  to  beai 
in  making  this  work  an  indispensable  aid  to  Masters,  Wardens,  and 
Brethren  throughout  the  great  Fraternity,  $1.00. 


7.  MASONIC  DIPLOMAS 

Of  the  various  Degrees  and  Orders  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Council 
and  Encampment.  "E^iose  of  the  Lodge  are  in  three  languages,  viz.: 
English,  German  and  French.  Those  of  the  Chapter  have  the  Spanish 
in  addition,  and  the  Council  Diploma  is  appended.  Those  of  the  En- 
campment are  in  English. 

All  these  publications,  whether  carpets,  plates,  books,  or  diplomas,  will 
be  forwarded  by  express  or  otherwise,  as  ordered,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  States  or  Canada.    The  trade  supplied  on  usual  terms. 


Address, 


JOHIT  SHEREE,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


SHERER'S  MASONIC  CARPETS. 


Our  Beautiful  Masonic  Emblems. 

HoAV  beautiful  are  tlie  emblems  of  Masonry !  There  is  ia 
them  every  grade  of  warning,  of  consolation,  and  of  triumph, 
of  which  the  spirit  of  man  is  susceptible.  In  their  silent  and 
irresistible  method,  they  teach,  through  all  the  trials  and  per- 
plexities of  life,  the  grandest  lessons  of  time  and  eternity. 
When  we  are  elated  by  prosperity,  there  is  the  gavel  and  the 
spade  to  warn  us.  When  bruised  in  spirit,  and  depressed  by 
adversity,  we  have  the  lamb  for  our  comfort  How  restraining 
to  the  refractory  mind  is  the  sight  of  the  cable  tow !  how  full 
of  Divine  philosophy  the  broken  shafts  the  open  hook,  and  the 
sprig  of  acacia !  Who  can  tell  what  good  deeds  might  have 
been  suggested,  what  evil  deeds  restrained,  what  sluggish  hearts 
invigorated,  what  parsimony  rendered  fruitful,  what  reckless 
daring  repressed,  what  timidity  conquered,  by  the  proper  ex- 
planation of  Masonic  emblems. 

Their  use  in  lodge  lecturing  is  indispensable  :  without  them 
the  lecturer  can  make  no  headway.  Through  their  aid  he  is 
enabled  to  guide  his  pupils  by  a  devious  yet  certain  way,  from 
the  claygrounds  and  the  quarries  by  the  way  of  Lebanon  and 
Joppa,  to  the  very  summit  of  Mount  Moriah,  and  to  the  inner- 
most parts  of  the  Holy  Temple.  By  their  use  we  learn  that 
our  duties  and  obligations  become  more  and  more  extensive  as 
we  advance  in  Masonry;  and  when  about  to  lay  down  the  work- 
ing tools  of  life,  we  have  hope,  through  these  emblems,  that 
our  Brethren  will  write  our  deeds  on  perpetual  record — on  their 
hearts. 


SIIERER/S  MASONIC  CARPETS. 


The  influence  of  my  Carpets  on  the  Masonic  mind  during 
the  past  ten  years,  has  called  out  many  and  flattering  comments: 
few  realize  how  great  it  is.  They  have  hung  in  most  of  the 
Lodges  and  Chapters  in  the  United  States  long  enough  to  test 
their  thorough  efficiency  in  painting  upon  the  minds  of  the 
Brethren  the  true  alphabet  of  Masonic  emblems.  It  would 
not  be  possible  now  to  make  any  innovation  in  these  things. 
No  new  emblems  now  would  be  allowed,  no  old  ones  would  be 
spared,  by  those  Brethren  who  have  sat  in  the  Lodge  for  so 
many  years  facing  my  Carpets.  The  present  generation  of 
Masons  has  been  educated,  so  far  as  emblems  are  concerned, 
by  the  use  of  my  Carpets. 

I  feel  bold,  therefore,  to  ask  your  Lodge,  if  you  are  not 
already  in  possession  of  a  Carpet,  to  order  one  at  once.  They 
are  very  large,  (6  feet  by  6^,)  and  elegantly  colored  and  var- 
nished. They  will  last  for  years,  and,  as  Masonry  is  unalter- 
able, you  will  never  need  another.  The  price  is  now  greatly 
reduced. 


SHERER'S  MASOiNlC  DEGREE  BOOK. 

The  first  three  plates  are  suitable  either  as  ornaments  for 
the  parlor,  or  stretched  on  muslin  and  varnished.  Are  sep- 
arate Masonic  Carpets  of  indispensable  use  in  exhibition  of  the 
Emblems  for  Lodges  of  Entered  Apprentice,  Fellow-Craft,  or 
Master-Mason. 

Each  Lodge  should  order  these  plates. 

Each  Mason  should  have  the  series  in  his  parlor. 

N.  B. — Favorable  terms  to  clubs. 

JOHN  SHERER,  69  Pike  St.,  Cincinnati,  0. 


THE  CHAPTER  AND  COUNCIL  CARPET. 


The  emblems  of  the  six  degrees  of  Mark  Master,  Past  Master, 
Most  Excellent  Master,  Royal  Arch,  Royal  Master  and  Select 
Master,  are  arranged  in  proper  order  upon  this  Carpet,  which 
like  that  of  the  Blue  Lodge  Degrees,  is  6  X  6J  feet  in  size 
and  elegantly  mounted  and  colored.  By  its  aid  the  lectures 
of  Capitular  and  Cryptic  Masonry  are  given  with  the  greatest 
possible  facility.  When  the  candidate  has  completed  his 
course  in  any  one  or  more  of  these  Degrees,  he  is  taken  to 
that  portion  of  the  Hall  in  which  the  Carpet  is  suspended, 
and  taught,  by  means  of  emblems,  all  that  the  Degree  con- 
tains. 

By  the  use  of  the  Chapter  and  Council  Carpet,  the  candi- 
date learns  how  the  ancient  workmen  discriminated  between 
the  true  man  and  the  impostor,  how  they  received  just  wages, 
and  by  what  references  their  complaint^  were  stilled.  From 
this  he  goes  on  to  learn  from  what  sources  of  authority  he 
may  draw  as  a  Past  Master,  and  how  be  preserved  from  con- 
fusion, insubordination  and  ignorance  among  his  members. 
Another  department  of  the  Carpet,  and  he  is  carried  forward 
to  that  glorious  day,  when  the  cape  stone  was  elevated  to  its 
place,  amid  reverberations  of  joy  from  assembled  millions. 
The  next  step,  and  he  is  conducted  from  Babylon  to  Jerusa- 
lem^ to  aid  in  resuscitating  the  ruined  City,  and  erecting  the 
Temple  of  God  therein.  A  little  further,  and  the  mystic  and 
curious  developments  of  the  Royal  and  Select  Master's 
Degrees  are  laid  bare  before  his  eye,  equally  instructing  his 
mind  and  gratifying  his  curiosity.  Thus,  step  by  step,  the 
delighted  candidate  is  filled  with  the  lore  hidden  to  all  save 
the  initiated,  and  this  makes  the  Carpet  a  sine  qua  non  in 
every  Chapter  and  Council. 

JSii"  NOTICE  TO  THE  SECRETARY.-^ 

Will  you  please  write  me  whether  or  not  your  lodge  and  chapter  have 
one  of  my  Carpets?  JOHN  SHEKER, 

69  Fike  Street,  Cincinnaii,  0, 


Orders  for  all  kinds  of  MASONIC  CLOTHING,  MASONIC 
JEWELS,  and  SEAL  PSESSES,  promptly  filled. 


PRICES  OF  BLUE  LODGE  JEWELS. 


Ko.  1.  10  Pieces  pure  Silver,  very  heavy   $40.00 

2.    35.00 

'   3.  "              "        "        "        "    30.00 

4.  "     "      Plated   25.00 

"   5.  ^'             German  Silver   20.00 

"   6.         "                           plain   15.00 

CHAPTER  JEWELS: 
Ko.  1.  12  Pieces,  fine  gilt   $40.00 

2.  "    35.00 

3.  Oreide  of  Gold  ,   25.00 

u  4,  u      u      fine  gilt   18.00 

OOMMANDERY    JEWELS  : 

Ko.  1.  12  Pieces,  fine  gilt   $20.00 

"   2.  "             Oreide  Gold   25.00 

3.  "                             Silver  Yfreath,  new  style   100.00 

ORAND    LODGE  JEWELS: 

Kg.  1.  15  Pieces,  Wreath  and  gilt   $40.00 

"   2.  "      Oreide  GoM,  extra  fine   75.00 

"  3.  "      "  "     elegantly  engraved,  superior   100.00 


HOW  TO  mm  AND  RECEIVE  THE  CARPETS. 

Let  the  Secretary  write  to  me  what  articles  are  required  by 
the  Lodge,  or  by  a  brother,  and  they  will  be  forwarded  without 
delay,  by  express  ;  and  the  Agent  of  the  Express  Co.,  on  de- 
livery, will  collect  my  bill.  No  money  required  until  the  Car- 
pets are  delivered. 

Address,  JOHN  SHERER 

69  Pike  St.,  Cincinnati,  0. 


JOHN 


CATALOGUE 

OF 

SHERER'S  MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


l.-SHEKEE'S  MASONIC  OAEPETS. 

These  are  of  three  styles.  The  first  is  a  Master's 
Carpet,  6  by  6^  feet,  finished  in  map  style,  molding  at 
top  with  roller  at  bottom,  presenting  the  emblems  of 
the  three  degrees  in  rich  colors.  The  second  style  is 
3  by  4  feet,  finished  in  a  similar  manner,  containing 
all  the  emblems  of  the  three  degrees,  arranged  in  three 
departments  —  one  department  being  devoted  to  the 
emblems  of  E.  A.,  one  to  those  of  F.  C,  and  one  to 
those  of  M.  M.  The  third  style  presents  the  emblems 
of  the  Lodge,  Chapter,  and  Council  degrees,  arranged  in 
departments  —  one  being  devoted  to  the  representation 
of  the  emblems  of  each  body.  This  latter  style  ia 
mapped  like  the  others,  and  of  the  largest  size. 

Official  recommendations  of  the  highest  character 
have  been  given  in  favor  of  these  Carpets  by  the  Grand 
Lodges  and  Grand  Chapters  of  seven  Southern  and  five 
Western  States;  while  letters  of  recommendation,  too 
numerous  to  recapitulate,  from  leading  brethren  in 
other  States,  attest  the  uniform  satisfaction  these  works 
liave  atforded  to  the  brethren  and  officers  of  the  lodges 
iv'herever  they  are  in  use.  The  price  of  either  style  is  $20. 


2 


MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


2.-SHEEEE'S  NEW  lELLOW-OEAFT  OHAET 

In  furnishing  a  lodge-room,  the  principal  expense 
heretofore  necessary  to  incur  has  been  the  pillars 
J.  and  B.,  and  in  most  of  our  country  lodge-rooms  they 
are,  from  the  extreme  cost  of  providing  them  of  a 
character  and  form  to  correspond  with  the  biblical 
description  of  them,  often er  absent  than  present.  To 
remedy  this  has  been  the  object  of  the  invention  of  the 
iSew  Fellow-Craft  Chart.  Upon  either  side  of  this 
Chart  are  represented,  nine  feet  high  and  of  suitable 
proportions,  the  pillars  of  the  Porch,  drawn  and  painted 
in  a  manner  at  once  artistic  and  correct.  So  faithfully 
are  these  pillars  represented  from  the  description  of 
them  to  be  found  in  Holy  Writ,  that  to  produce  copies 
of  them  in  any  material  upon  which  they  might  be 
parved  would  cost  not  less  than  ^300.  The  artist  has 
evidently  studied  their  description  with  an  abiding 
sense  of  their  beauty;  for  in  his  display  of  the  chapiters, 
and  portrayal  of  their  net-work,  lily- work,  and  pome- 
granates, as  also  their  surmounting  globes  and  support* 
ing  capitals,  shafts  and  pedestals,  those  columns  are  at 
once  the  most  faithful  rendering  of  the  original  record 
and  most  beautiful  evidence  of  artistic  genius  and 
nrrangement  of  them  ever  3^et  beheld. 

Between  those  pillars  is  portrayed  an  outer  view  of 
the  middle  chamber  upon  a  scale  so  large  that  the  three 
human  figures  introduced,  although  well  advanced  in 
the  perspective,  are  ten  inches  high  and  of  suitable 
proportions.  This  view  of  the  M.  C.  occupies  the  full 
space  between  the  pillars — a  space  about  three  feet  wide 
by  six  feet  high.  Eising  from  the  immediate  frre- 
ground  appear  the  three  steps  indicative  of  the  threo 
stages  of  human  life,  each  riser  of  which  bears  upon  its 


MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


3 


front  one  of  the  working-tools  of  a  F.  C.  The  broad 
tread  of  the  uppermost  is  lapped  by  the  lowest  of  the 
Hucceeding  five  steps,  surmounted  by  the  other  four  in 
proper  Perspective,  each  bearing  upon  its  riser,  in  plain 
lettering,  the  name  of  its  appropriate  sense  and  order 
of  architecture;  while,  in  their  turn,  those  are  sur- 
mounted by  the  seven  steps,  each  bearing  upon  its  riser 
the  lame  of  that  science  of  which  it  is  indicative. 
Upon  the  highest,  or  fifteenth  step,  stands  the  S.  D. 
and  the  newly-made  F.  C,  the  former  in  the  act  of 
addressing  the  J.  W.,  while  in  the  gable  of  the  porch, 
immediately  above  the  head  of  that  officer,  is  figured, 
as  if  carved  in  the  face  of  the  solid  stone,  the  scene  at 
the  ford,  to  which  reference  is  about  to  be  made  in 
the  colloquy  which  follows.  So  beautifully  rendered  i8 
every  thing  represented  upon  this  Chart,  and  so  large 
and  consequently  attractive  is  the  scale  upon  which  it 
is  drawn,  that  the  mind  of  the  candidate  must  be 
riveted  upon  this  work  as  upon  a  beautiful  painting 
which  is  being  explained  to  him;  while  the  assistance 
it  affords  to  the  S.  D.  in  aiding  his  memory  to  master 
the  lengthy  and  intricate  explanations  of  the  emblems 
represented,  is  such  that  it  must  be  once  experienced 
before  it  can  by  that  officer  be  appreciated.  The  price 
of  this  work  is  $20.  It  is  finished  in  map  form,  with 
molding  at  the  top  and  roller  at  the  bottom.  In  use 
it  should  be  suspended  from  some  style  of  suitable 
support. 

For  the  use  of  such  lodges  as  have  not  got  the  two 
wooden  Pillars,  the  Pillars  alone  are  mapped  single. 
They  can  be  hung  upon  upright  stands  of  suitable 
height,  and  convey  to  the  eye  of  the  candidate  a  much 
more  vivid  idea  of  the  original  than  wooden  Pillars  of 
ten  times  their  cost.  They  are  sold  at  $10  for  the  two. 


4 


MASONIC  PUBLrCATlONS. 


The  center  portion  of  this  chart  is  finished  in  map 
form,  and  sold  at  §10.  It  conveys  to  the  eye  of  the 
candidate  a  much  better  idea  of  the  passage  of  winding 
stairs  to  the'M.  C.  than  the  oil-cloth  does,  which  is  laid 
on  the  floor,  and  costs  four  times  the  amount. 

Stands  for  either  of  these  articles  can  be  made  of  one 
by  three-inch  lumber,  as  an  upright,  of  suitable  height, 
with  a  foot  made  by  nailing  four  twelve-inch  pieces  of 
the  same,  at  right-angles,  at  the  lower  end,  and  driving 
a  nail  partially  into  the  upper  end  of  the  upright,  from 
which  to  suspend  the  chart  or  Pillar. 


SHEREK'S  MASTER'S  OAEPET, 

In  three  parts,  should  be  hung,  while  using  either  part, 
near  the  W.  M.,  on  an  upright  made  as  above  described. 
The  large  Master's  Carpet — six  by  six  and  one«half  feet 
— can  also  be  used  in  the  sameway. 

To  such  lodges  as  are  not  supplied  with  wooden  Pil- 
lars or  the  Floor-cloth  representing  the  M.  C,  etc.,  the 
publisher  will  forward,  at  his  own  expense,  by  express, 
samples  of  these  Pillars  and  M.  C.  Maps,  to  the  end 
that  the  brethren  members  of  such  lodges  may  examine 
them,  and  decide  from  actual  sight  as  to  their  merits  and 
suitability  for  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  designed. 
Address 

JOHN  SHERER, 

Masonic  Publisher, 

Cincinnafi,  Ohio. 


THIS  VIEW  18  A  FAC-SIMILE 

0  F 

SHERER'S  FELLOW  CRAFT  CHART. 


SIZE  4^^  X  6. 


6 


MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


7. -GEMS  OF  MASONRY. 
Thi^j  is  an  illustrated  volume  of  some  64  pages, 
containing  historical  and  scriptural  references  to  the 
emblems  of  the  first  seven  degrees.  By  its  aid  any 
brother  can  take  a  keen  interest  in  recalling  to  memory 
what  he  has  seen  in  the  work  of  those  degrees,  and  the 
W.  M.  is  enabled  to  store  his  mind  with  refreshing 
knowledge  suitable  and  indeed  necessary  for  his  office. 
The  price  is  but  $1,  post-paid  to  any  part  of  the  XJ.  S. 
or  Canada. 


8. -WEBB'S  FEEEMASOFS  MONITOE. 

This  book  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  edition  #f  1816,  as 
to  language,  with  the  improvements  of  illustration  and 
notes  necessary  to  make  it  a  useful  book  at  the  present 
day.  Being  the  oldest  Monitor  in  America,  Webb's 
work  has  been  the  parent  and  fount  of  information 
from  whence  has  been  derived  all  the  Masonic  hand- 
books in  the  United  States.    Price  $1. 


9. -VIEW  OF  JERUSALEM  AS  BESIEGED  BY  TITUS. 

This  is  a  magnificent  chromo-lithograph,  printed  in 
the  best  style  of  the  art.  It  has  been  pronounced  a 
most  remarkable  work,  and  one  upon  which  the  eye 
of  every  Freemason  will  repose  with  interest.  For  a 
parlor'  ornament  it  is  very  appropriate,  while  for  a 
lodge,  nothing  is  more  so.  The  price  is  except  to 
clubs  of  five  or  more,  to  whom  it  will  be  put  at  ^1.50 
to  each. 


MASONIC  PUBLICATIONS. 


7 


10. -VIEW  OF  SOLOMON'S  TEMPLE. 

This  work  was  engraved  at  Boston,  Mass.,  upon  two 
steel  plates,  from  the  celebrated  design  of  Chancellor 
Schott,  of  Hamburg,  at  a  cost  exceeding  two  thousand 
doMars.  Nothing  but  an  examination  will  afford  a 
sufficient  idea  of  the  fund  of  instruction  embodied  in 
this  work.  The  border  designs,  of  which  there  are 
eight;  the  drawings  subsidiary,  of  which  there  are  four, 
and  the  scriptural  and  historical  passages  thickly  inter- 
spersed, make  it  a  perfect  cyclopedia  of  the  subject. 
The  size  of  the  plate  is  24  by  42  inches,  and  the  price 
is,  for  plain  prints,  S2,  and  for  colored,  S3  each.  Where 
clubs  of  five  or  more  unite,  the  prices  will  be  $1.50  for 
plain,  and  S2.50  for  colored  copies. 


11. -MASTER  MASOFS  DIPLOMA. 

This  is  by  far  the  most  appropriate  and  elegant 
Diploma  ever  issued;  it  is  universally  admired,  and 
graces  many  a  brother's  parlor.  In  size  it  is  20  by  27 
inches.  Jt  is  pi-inted  in  tint  on  lieavy  pjlate-paper,  for 
framing. 

The  design  is  that  of  the  Form.  Support,,  and  Covering 
of  the  Lodge.  The  view  from  the  south  displays  the 
Pillar  .of  Beouty  in  majestic  proportions;  those  of 
Wisdom  and  Strength  being  in  perspective.  Jacob,- 
peaciefully  slumbering  on  his  mystic  pillow,  lies  at  the 
foot  of  the  Celestial  Ladder,  along  which  angels  pass 
and  repass  on  errands  of  mercy.  The  heavenly  bodies 
are  in  their  appointed  places.  The  surrounding  objects 
are  such  as  are  appropriate  to  oriental  climes.  The 
whole  constituting  a  splendid  picture.  At  the  foot  of 
each  pillar  are  seen  the  Jewels  of  the  Master  and 


8 


MASONIC  PUBLICAT10.,'S. 


Wardens  respectively.  Below  it  is  appended  the  prop  r 
form  of  Diploma,  having  blanks  for  names,  dates,  elc., 
and  for  the  lodge  seal  and  photograph  of  the  owner. 
Every  Master  Mason  should  have  this  Diploma.  Priee^ 
$2  per  copy.  The  same  design,  on  a  scale  of  13  by  18 
inches,  is  furnished  for  $1.50.  Orders  from  Secretaries 
and  Tylers  filled  at  reduced  rates 


THE  PEEEMASON'S  MONITOE, 

By  Thomas  Smith  Webb,  with  notes  and  running 
comment  by  Eob  Morris.  This  edition  of  the  old  and 
standard  author,  whose  production  has  so  long  main- 
tained its  place  in  public  favor  amid  the  competition 
of  nearly  a  score  of  imitations,  is  rendered  immensely 
more  valuable  by  the  learning  and  experience  of  the 
present  Editor.  Mr.  Morris  has  brought  all  his  knowl- 
edge of  Masonic  law  and  usage  to  bear  in  making  thia 
work  an  indispensable  aid  to  Masters,  Wardens,  and 
Brethren  throughout  the  great  Fraternity. 

All  these  publications,  w^hether  carpets,  plates,  books, 
or  diplomas,  will  be  forwarded  by  express  or  otherwise, 
as  ordered,  to  any  part  of  the  United  States  or  Canada. 
The  trade  supplied  on  usual  terms. 

Address, 

JOHN  SIIERER 

Cincinnati^  Ohio, 


GETTY  CENTER  LIBRARY 


3  3125  00652  9446 


